The Rhode Island Department of Health is reporting the first human case of the mosquito-driven Jamestown Canyon virus in the state since 2013. Deaths from the virus are rare, according to the CDC, but some people who get it develop meningitis or encephalitis.
"Although we are no longer in mosquito season in Rhode Island, these recently confirmed cases of JCV and WNV are a reminder that a few simple precautions can help you stay healthy and safe when you are outdoors spending quality time with family and friends," said Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. "And while mosquitoes may no longer be biting after the first hard frost, Rhode Islanders are reminded that we are not 'out of the woods' with ticks, which can continue to bite and spread diseases like Lyme Disease, even in winter."
The RI health department says the person who tested positive is a resident of Kent County in their 50s who has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering.
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