Rhode Island officials have announced the year's first detection of West Nile virus.
The departments of Health and Environmental Management say the virus was found in a mosquito sample collected in East Providence on July 21.
As of Thursday, no samples have found eastern equine encephalitis or Jamestown Canyon virus.
Officials advise the public to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing bug spray with DEET and avoiding the outdoors during the peak hours of mosquito activity at sunrise and sunset.
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Photo: David McNew / Getty Images News / Getty Images