The Department of Environmental Management announced Monday the first finding of West Nile Virus in Rhode Island.


The positive result came from a horse stabled on Saugatucket Road in Wakefield that was euthanized at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts on August 28. Tests were performed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa for the United States Department of Agriculture. Confirmatory test results were received by DEM about 10 a. m. Monday.


This marks the first time in Rhode Island that a horse has contracted the disease.


The news is not unexpected since West Nile Virus has already been identified this year in birds in Rhode Island as well as in neighboring states

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