Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are active in Fulton County, and the county's health department wants Roswell-area residents to protect themselves.
The Fulton County Board of Health confirmed on July 8, that a mosquito trap in the Grant Park area of east Atlanta produced the season's first positive test for West Nile virus. The detection means infected mosquitoes are present in the county where Roswell sits.
"Mosquitoes can be dangerous if infected and may pose a serious health risk to people in our area," said Dr. Brandon Leftwich, Environmental Health Director at the Fulton County Board of Health, in the agency's July 8 announcement. "We want to make sure communities are aware and take necessary precautions to protect themselves."
The board is working with a mosquito control contractor to treat the affected area and plans to send teams into surrounding neighborhoods to educate residents about bite prevention and breeding-site removal, according to the FCBOH press release.
National season running ahead of schedule
The local detection comes during what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called the earliest start to West Nile virus season in more than two decades. The CDC reported at least 48 human cases nationwide as of June 30, with 38 involving severe neuroinvasive disease. Since 2004, an average of just 10 cases had been reported by the end of June. Twenty-three states had confirmed West Nile activity by late June, the highest number in the past 10 years.
What Roswell residents should know
West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the contiguous United States, causing several thousand infections and roughly 100 deaths in an average year, according to the CDC. Most people who contract the virus develop no symptoms. About one in five develop fever and mild illness. Fewer than 1% develop severe neurological disease.
Adults 60 and older and people with certain underlying medical conditions face the highest risk of serious illness. No vaccine or specific treatment exists.
The '5Ds' of prevention
The Fulton County Board of Health recommends five steps residents can take:
- Dusk/Dawn — Avoid outdoor activity at peak mosquito hours around dusk and dawn.
- Dress — Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
- DEET — Apply insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin.
- Drain — Empty standing water from buckets, barrels, flowerpots and tarps.
- Doors — Keep doors and windows in good repair, fix torn screens, and trim overgrown grass or weeds near the home.
How to report concerns
Residents who want to report mosquito breeding sites or standing water issues can contact the Fulton County Board of Health's Environmental Health Division. The agency's mosquito control program monitors traps across the county throughout the summer season.
