ATLANTA – Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) Environmental Health mosquito control staff recovered positive mosquito samples for West Nile virus from a trap at a location within the county. The positive test result was reported in the Grant Park area of East Atlanta and indicates the presence of infected mosquitoes in the area.
“Mosquitoes can be dangerous if infected and may pose a serious health risk to people in our area. We want to make sure communities are aware and take necessary precautions to protect themselves,” says Dr. Brandon Leftwich, Environmental Health Director at the Fulton County Board of Health.
The 5Ds of mosquito bite prevention can help prevent mosquito bites and breeding:
· Dusk/Dawn – Avoid dusk and dawn activities during the summer when mosquitoes are most active.
· 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 DEET, which is the most effective repellent against mosquito bites.
· Drain – Empty any containers holding standing water – buckets, barrels, flowerpots, tarps – 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.
· 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 DEET, which is the most effective repellent against mosquito bites.
· Drain – Empty any containers holding standing water – buckets, barrels, flowerpots, tarps – 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.
– Also trim or remove overgrown grass or weeds
If there are any infected mosquitoes reported in an area, the Fulton County Board of Health works with a mosquito control vendor to eliminate the pests. Our team will also visit the surrounding neighborhoods to spread awareness about the positive test results in that area and educate the community on preventing mosquito bites and breeding areas around their homes.
Here is a link from Fulton Government Television explaining the FCBOH mosquito spraying program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LwFx4yAvZY
The Fulton County Board of Health provides a variety of services that help protect residents from health threats, increase access to health services to improve health outcomes, and provide information that assists Fulton County citizens in living healthier lives. For more information on the Fulton County Board of Health, visit http://www.fultoncountyboh.com.