Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

DeKalb health officials find first 2018 case of West Nile virus

What You Need to Know: West Nile Virus
By
July 16, 2018

The DeKalb County Board of Health announced Friday that workers trapped a mosquito in Tucker that tested positive for West Nile virus.

RELATED CONTENT: ABOUT WEST NILE VIRUS

It was the first case of West Nile logged in the county this year, the press release said. No human cases have been reported.

Clockwise from top left: The deer tick, which transmits Lyme disease; the American dog tick, which transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia; the Culex pipiens mosquito, which transmits West Nile virus; and the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits Zika, dengue and chikungunya. CONTRIBUTED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
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The Board of Health says it regularly traps mosquitoes and tests them for viruses as part of a comprehensive mosquito control program. They also provide residents with a list of precautions in order to stop the spread of disease, including:

  • eliminate standing water in gutters and yard debris;
  • trim grass, weeds and vines;
  • wear long sleeves, pants and socks outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk;
  • make sure doors and screens are tight and not in need of repair;
  • wear bug spray with DEET or other ingredients proven effective.

LEARN MORE: STAYING SAFE DURING SUMMER

About the Author

Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the "Politically Georgia" podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.

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