Health officials confirm detection of West Nile virus in Savannah. Here's how you can protect yourself

HE REMAINS IN CUSTODY… AT THE JASPER COUNTY DETENTION CENTER./// A MOSQUITO SAMPLE COLLECTED IN CHATHAM COUNTY… HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS. That’s according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. WJCL 22 NEWS’ AJ SISSON… JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR NEWSROOM. And AJ, you talked to the doctors about their biggest concerns. YES… AND THE SYMPTOMS CAN LOOK LIKE THE COLD… AND CORONAVIRUS. But doctors say the best thing you can do to protect yourself: Don’t get bitten. FIRST MOSQUITO OF 2024 IN HOST CITY…WITH WEST NILE VIRUS IN 2024…DETECTED BY CHATHAM COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL “They do surveillance throughout the year, looking for different diseases, equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, and so they have their first positive sample for a West Nile virus from an encampment collected on June 10 south of the savannah.” DOCTOR BONZO REDDICK… COASTAL GEORGIA HEALTH DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH… SAYS WEST NILE SYMPTOMS… ARE NOT THAT FAR FROM THE COLD – LIKE FEVER… BODY ACHES …AND HEADACHES. HOWEVER SOME PEOPLE…ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS…MAY HAVE A MORE SEVERE REACTION… “Things like encephalitis, which actually looks like inflammation of the brain. Those are the cases you hear about and why people are so terrified of the West Neile virus. But, in general, most cases are pretty mild .” “ONE IN 25 PEOPLE WILL HAVE SOME FEVER WHEN THEY HAVE WEST NILE VIRUS. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WILL HAVE NO SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER.” ALTHOUGH DOCTORS ADVISE TO AVOID MOSQUITO BITES AT ALL COSTS. “THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF AVOIDING MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES, WE USE DS.” HERE ARE THE FIVE D’S: AVOID ACTIVITIES AT DUSK OR DAWN… LIMIT EXPOSED SKIN WITH LONGER, LOOSE CLOTHING… WEAR AN ANTI-INSECT SPRAY WITH “DEET”… IT IS SAY THAT THIS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE REPELLENT… DRAIN ALL CONTAINERS WITH WATER… AND MAKE SURE YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE TIGHTLY CLOSED. “WE ARE VERY LUCKY HERE TO HAVE A COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT INVESTS IN PROTECTING US AGAINST MOSQUITOES. NOT ALL RURAL AREAS HAVE THIS PROTECTION, AND THAT’S WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO USE THESE D WHENEVER YOU CAN TO PREVENT YOU FROM CATCHING THESE DISEASES “Here in Chatham County, it’s these little yellow helicopters that spray insect pesticides. ACCORDING TO DPH…ONLY FIVE CASES HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN CHATHAM COUNTY SINCE 2019. SO THERE IS NO REASON TO PANIC…HOWEVER BEST STAY PREPARED.

Health officials confirm detection of West Nile virus in Savannah. Here’s how you can protect yourself

As of 2023, doctors have recorded twelve cases of the virus in Georgia, and only five reported cases have been seen in Chatham County since 2019.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Coastal Health District, a mosquito sample collected in Chatham County tested positive for West Nile virus. The infected mosquitoes were collected in the southern part of Savannah. This is the first positive test for WNV in Chatham County’s mosquito population this year. Mosquito control treats the area with an insecticide. WNV is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. Many people infected with the virus have no symptoms. Some may have mild to moderate symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Severe cases can lead to serious illness, sometimes fatal. There is no vaccine or cure for WNV. According to the DPH, you can reduce your risk of infection by following the 5Ds of mosquito bite prevention: Dusk/dawn: Avoid dusk and dawn. activities during the summer, when mosquitoes are most active. Dress: Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and pants to reduce the amount of exposed skin. DEET: Cover exposed skin with an insect repellent containing DEET, which is the most effective repellent against mosquito bites. Drain: Empty all containers with standing water – buckets, barrels, flower pots, tarps – as they provide breeding grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.Doors: Make sure doors and windows are in good repair and fit properly, and repair tears or damaged screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.TRENDING STORIESAlberto lands, tracks two areas for possible tropical developmentDeputies: Couple and friend arrested after being found in ‘compromising position’ at South Carolina motelMan dies in emergency room after exchanging gunfire with Bulloch County deputies

SAVANNAH, Georgia —

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Coastal Health District, a mosquito sample collected in Chatham County tested positive for West Nile virus.

The infected mosquitoes were collected in the southern part of Savannah. This is the first positive test for WNV in Chatham County’s mosquito population this year. Mosquito Control treats the area with an insecticide.

WNV is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. Many people infected with the virus have no symptoms.

Some may experience mild to moderate symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Severe cases can lead to serious illness, sometimes fatal.

There is no vaccine or cure for WNV.

According to the DPH, you can reduce your risk of infection by following the 5Ds of mosquito bite prevention:

Dusk/Dawn: Avoid activities at dusk and dawn during the summer, when mosquitoes are most active.

Dress: Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and pants to reduce the amount of exposed skin.

DEET: Cover exposed skin with insect repellent containing DEET, which is the most effective repellent against mosquito bites.

Drain: Empty all containers with standing water – buckets, barrels, flower pots, tarps – as they provide breeding grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.

Doors: Make sure doors and windows are in good repair and fit properly, and repair torn or damaged screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.

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