West Nile virus in Rhode Island

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It comes as little surprise that the exotic West Nile virus has turned up in Rhode Island; mosquitoes are known to have infected birds with the encephalitis-causing virus in the bordering states of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The West Nile virus was detected for the first time in the Ocean State Aug 8, in a crow found in Warwick. Testing at the University of Rhode Island's virology laboratory confirmed the virus' presence in the bird.

State officials subsequently announced the commencement of ground spraying of insecticide in a two-mile radius of where the crow was found.

No human cases have been reported in the state. In New York state, where the virus is much more wide spread, three people from Staten Island are said to be recovering from West Nile encephalitis infections.