West Nile Virus Discovered in Avondale Estates

Health officials are asking for the public to exercise caution after West Nile Virus was discovered in a mosquito population on Lake Avondale during a recent test.

According to the DeKalb Board of Health, some 37 positive mosquito collections have been taken between January and Aug. 21, out of 529 collections sent in for testing. Of the five dead birds collected in DeKalb since the start of the year, none have tested positive for the disease.

The board of health said in a statement that the chance of contracting the virus exists across the metro area but is higher in Avondale Estates due to the confirmed presence of infected mosquitoes, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says.

West Nile Virus is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, but the Mayo Clinic says that 80 percent of people bitten by an infected mosquito will have no symptoms of the disease. Around 20 percent will get a mild illness called West Nile Fever, and less than one percent of people will develop a serious neurological infection.

The CDC recommends that to avoid infection, people use insect repellent when outdoors, wear long sleeves, pants, and socks when weather permits, and take extra precautions during daylight hours, which is when mosquitoes are the most active.

As of Aug. 21, 12,749 mosquitoes in DeKalb County have been collected and tested for the virus at 25 mosquito trap locations. 12 of the locations tested had mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus.