Recent rains and warm temperatures spurred an increase in local
mosquito populations. With West Nile virus a growing threat,
Georgians should control mosquitos now.

Here are three tips for preventing mosquito problems:

Maintain screens. The first line of defense around homes
is to maintain insect-proof screens on all doors and windows.
Properly maintaining screening will help keep mosquitos and
houseflies from entering homes.

Eliminate standing water. Mosquito larvae develop in
standing water. Eliminating their larval habitats help reduce
future adult populations. Almost any item that will hold water
(buckets, tarps, boat covers, pet dishes) can breed mosquito
populations.

Use repellants. Using personal protection includes wearing
light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants and using insect
repellents. Follow the directions on repellents closely.

West Nile virus is already active this year. Crows have tested
positive for the virus as far south as Maryland. It’s unusual to
see mosquito-borne virus activity this early in the year. These
findings warrant attention.

At the end of last summer, a virus-positive crow was identified
in North Carolina, the closest to Georgia the virus has been
found. While no one can predict the virus’s spread, it’s
wide-ranging in Europe, west Asia, Africa and the Middle East. So
it’s not unreasonable to expect it to continue to spread in the
United States.

If you find dead birds, especially crows, that have no obvious
cause of death, report the finding to the local health
department.

Most people infected with West Nile virus have either no
symptoms or mild ones, such as fever, headache, body aches, mild
skin rash or swollen lymph glands.

A more severe infection, which may lead to encephalitis, includes
headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation,
coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, neurological damage,
and paralysis. Nine U.S. people died in 1999 and 2000, so this is
not a virus to be disregarded.