The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it’s seeing the earliest start to the West Nile virus season in the United States, with the highest number of human disease cases reported by this time of year since 2004. Fulton County Board of Health Environmental Health Director Dr. Brandon Leftwich said mosquito control staff recovered positive mosquito samples for West Nile virus from a trap at a location within the county.
The positive test result was reported in the Grant Park area of Atlanta and indicates the presence of infected mosquitoes in the area.
The mosquito-borne illness causes disorientation, fever, headache, and in severe cases, encephalitis or meningitis. Officials documented 54 confirmed cases and five deaths in Georgia in 2024, but the actual incidence may have been higher; 24 blood donors later tested positive for the disease.
“Mosquitoes can be dangerous if infected and may pose a serious health risk to people in our area,” Leftwich said in a news release. “We want to make sure communities are aware and take necessary precautions to protect themselves.”
The 5Ds of mosquito bite prevention can help prevent mosquito bites and breeding:
- Dusk/Dawn – Avoid dusk and dawn activities during the summer when mosquitoes are most active.
- Dress – Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants to reduce the amount of exposed skin.
- DEET – Cover exposed skin with an insect repellent containing DEET, which is the most effective repellent against mosquito bites.
- Drain – Empty any containers holding standing water – buckets, barrels, flowerpots, tarps – because they are breeding grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.
- Doors – Make sure doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly, and fix torn or damaged screens to keep mosquitoes out of the house.
Also, trim or remove overgrown grass or weeds, experts say.
If any infected mosquitoes are reported in an area, the Fulton County Board of Health said it works with a mosquito-control vendor to eliminate the pests. Then, they visit the surrounding neighborhoods to raise awareness of positive test results in those areas and educate the community on preventing mosquito bites and eliminating breeding sites around their homes.
