At least six animals in Providence County have tested positive for rabies over the past six weeks, the Rhode Island Department of Health said Friday, prompting a renewed warning to residents to steer clear of wildlife and keep pet vaccinations current.

Since March 12, three raccoons in Burrillville, one bat and one coyote in Lincoln, and one raccoon in Providence have tested positive for the virus, according to the department, known as RIDOH. Test results on a raccoon from North Smithfield are pending.

Rabies vector species in Rhode Island include bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, groundhogs and beavers, the department said. The virus attacks the central nervous system and, without prompt medical care after exposure, can cause fatal brain disease. Health officials stressed that treatment must begin as soon as possible after a suspected exposure and that people should not wait for symptoms to develop.

Residents who see a wild animal behaving erratically should not approach it and should contact their local animal control officer, RIDOH said. Anyone who has physical contact with a wild animal, or who wakes up to find a bat in their home, should call RIDOH’s Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 401-222-2577 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 401-276-8046 after hours.

People bitten or scratched should wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention immediately, the department said. Pet owners whose animals tangle with wildlife should contact their municipal animal control officer and RIDOH.

State law requires all dogs, cats and ferrets to be up to date on rabies vaccinations. Health officials said vaccinating pets protects the animals and prevents people from being exposed to the virus through them.

To reduce the risk of rabies, RIDOH recommends that residents avoid contact with stray or free-roaming domestic animals and wild animals, refrain from feeding either, and keep pet food indoors to avoid attracting wildlife. The department also urges owners to walk dogs on leashes or confine them to fenced yards, report all animal bites to local animal control, and secure garbage cans against scavenging animals.

More information is available at www.health.ri.gov/rabies.

Police in Cumberland, Rhode Island, issued a Silver Alert for a missing 83-year-old man they say is endangered.

John “Jack” Thornhill was last seen around 7:30 a.m. Thursday at his home in the Branch Avenue neighborhood, police said. He is believed to have left on foot.

Thornhill is described as having white hair and brown eyes with glasses.

When he was last seen, Thornhill was wearing a red sweatshirt, grey gym shorts and Crocs.

Anyone with information is asked to call 401-333-2500 or dial 911.

“The return of this service is a meaningful addition to PVD’s non-stop portfolio, which is now at 39 destinations,” Iftikhar Ahmad, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, said in a statement. “Rhode Island has one of the strongest Cabo Verdean communities in the United States, and this service creates a direct, convenient connection between families, cultures, and economies.”

Initial operations of the year-round flight will include a Monday afternoon arrival in Rhode Island with an immediate return flight to Cabo Verde, according to the airport.

“The airline is also evaluating the addition of a second weekly frequency later in 2026, which would further expand access for both leisure travelers and the Cabo Verdean community and position PVD as a key U.S. gateway to the archipelago,” the airport said.

According to officials, additional schedule details and booking information will be released by TACV Cabo Verde Airlines in the coming weeks.

Breeze Airways began offering service to Cancun, Mexico, earlier this year, restoring international service in Rhode Island after BermudAir concluded a short-lived, twice-weekly direct flight last summer.

When the Cancun service was announced in September, it was described as an eight-week trial route that was expected to conclude in mid-April 2026.

In an email on Thursday, Ryne Williams, a spokesperson for Breeze, confirmed the nonstop service ends on Saturday but will return on Dec. 19.

This story has been updated to include comment from Ryne Williams.

Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.