City of St. Marys issued the following announcement on Oct. 13.
Tests conducted by the Camden County Mosquito Control Services has detected West Nile Virus (WNV) in a sample of mosquitoes collected this week in St. Marys. Once WNV is detected in mosquitoes it is an indication that the virus is actively circulating in local mosquito populations, regardless of the specific location of positive mosquito pools, and appropriate precautions should be taken.
Mosquito Control Services has increased prevention measures in the area, but residents are also encouraged to follow the “5 Ds” of mosquito bite prevention:
• 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 the DEET, which is the most effective repellent against mosquito bites.
• Drain – Empty any outdoor containers holding standing water 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.
• Dusk/Dawn – Avoid dusk and dawn activities during the summer when mosquitoes are most active.
WNV is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick and about 20% of people who are infected will have mild symptoms, but WNV can also cause serious illness. There has been one confirmed human case of WNV this year in Georgia and none in the eight Coastal Health District counties.
For more information on mosquito-borne illnesses, please visit our website at gachd.org/mosquitoes.
Original source can be found here.
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