The DeKalb County Board of Health has confirmed that a human case of West Nile virus was found in Brookhaven. The patient, a 72-year-old male, is currently hospitalized.
The DeKalb County Board of Health and the City of Brookhaven have been monitoring and treating for the prevention of the mosquito population within Brookhaven for months. The DCBOH has been monitoring mosquito activity at Blackburn and Murphey Candler parks, as well as treating storm drains along roads throughout Brookhaven. To date, no positive WNV mosquitoes have been captured in Brookhaven.
The DCBOH advises that most people infected with WNV have no symptoms or experience mild flu-like symptoms, the virus potentially can cause serious and sometimes fatal illness. The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite is low. The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill.
DCBOH program technicians will be in the Brookhaven area providing additional mosquito control services including applying larvicide and investigating for mosquito breeding sites.
Information: www.dekalbhealth.net/envhealth.
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