Several South Georgia Counties have declared health emergencies following a dramatic increase in the mosquito population. Mosquito traps in Valdosta show a more than 8-thousand percent increase in the last three weeks. Complaints from residents have also gone up. Experts blame the mosquito activity on heavy rains and flooding that took place in April. More mosquitos could mean an increase in human sickness.
Dr. Lynn Feldman is the Director of the South Health District. She says the problem is also intensified by last year’s weather.
“During the drought a lot of these mosquito eggs were in a dormant phase, and with the flooding and with the rain that we’ve had, then some of these mosquitoes have hatched that have been dormant for months or even years.”
These health emergency declarations make money available to help local governments with the cost of spraying and baiting in areas that still have standing water. No cases of West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been reported so far.
Dr. Lynn Feldman is the Director of the South Health District. She says the problem is also intensified by last year’s weather.
“During the drought a lot of these mosquito eggs were in a dormant phase, and with the flooding and with the rain that we’ve had, then some of these mosquitoes have hatched that have been dormant for months or even years.”
These health emergency declarations make money available to help local governments with the cost of spraying and baiting in areas that still have standing water. No cases of West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been reported so far.
