Mosquitoes Cause Health Emergency

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.

West Nile shows up in donated blood

The West Nile virus has been detected in blood donated by a man in DeKalb County. Health officials say the infected pint of blood was found before it reached the general blood supply. Officials say the 61-year-old man shows no symptoms from the virus. State officials say it’s the third case of West Nile found in a blood donation this year in Georgia.

More West Nile cases

West Nile virus is confirmed in three people in the Albany area. There are two cases reported in Dougherty County and one in Lee County. The victims ranging from 23 to 46 years old reported symptoms such as fever and chills. West Nile is triggered by the bite of a mosquito already carrying the virus.

(Associated Press)

Atlanta man contracts West Nile virus

Health officials say an Atlanta man became the first person in the state to contract West Nile virus. Officials declined to identify the 58-year-old man, who sought help in late August and returned to his home earlier this week. April Majors, public affairs officer for the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, said physicians caught the illness in time, adding, "He's recovered. He's doing fine." By this time last year, Fulton County had reported nine cases of West Nile. Statewide there were 52 reported cases of West Nile in 2007, with one fatality.

(Associated Press)

Bugs test positive for West Nile virus

State health officials say the recent discovery of a group of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus is the first case this year in Georgia. The mosquitoes were trapped in a Fulton County park in an area of Atlanta called Buckhead. But they are cautioning Georgians not to panic -- because the virus is in bugs, not a person. Last year there were 50- human cases of West Nile Virus related illnesses and one death. State health officials say Georgians should use bug repellant when outside and emptying stagnate water from flower pots and buckets.

Multiple cases of equine virus in south Georgia

State health officials have confirmed six positive cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis found in five horses in south Georgia. The most recent cases were found in Lowndes County, which had two. One case each was confirmed in Berrien, Brooks, Cook and Lanier counties. For the entire state, nine cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been confirmed for the year—that’s up from six recorded for all of last year. The EEE virus has similarities to that of West Nile. However, a south Georgia health official tells the Valdosta Daily Times that most people bitten by a mosquito carrying EEE will not become sick. The virus cannot be transmitted from horse to person.

Athens reports West Nile case

Northeast Georgia is reporting this year’s first case of West Nile virus. The Athens Banner-Herald reports a woman checked into an Athens hospital with the disease. It’s spread by infected mosquitoes. The disease is not always fatal when healthy people get it. However it’s dangerous to people older than 50.

Columbus: four ill with West Nile Virus

Four cases of West Nile Virus have been diagnosed in Columbus since last month, health officials report.

Columbus West Central Health District Program Manager Ed Saidla told GPB News that this is the time of the year when individuals are most likely to contract the disease:

“Persons who are elderly, or have other health conditions are often more likely not to survive West Nile Virus than those who are healthy at the time of infection. However – west Nile Virus can cause serious, life-changing events to even healthy individuals. Anybody can wind up with the virus, so it's important that they take precautions.”

The West Central Health District recommends the following steps to limit exposure to the mosquitoes that carry the virus:

Mosquitoes need water to breed. They can breed in any puddle or standing water that remains more than four days. By removing areas of standing water, you will eliminate breeding grounds and reduce the number of mosquitoes.

Dispose of old tires. Regularly empty any metal cans, ceramic flowerpots, bottles, jars, buckets, and other water-holding containers on your property.

Turn over plastic wading pools, outdoor toys and wheelbarrows when not in use.

Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.

Keep gutters cleared and sloped to the downspout.

Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors.

Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated. Remove standing water from pool covers.

Make sure windows and screens are in good condition.

Purchase and use Mosquito Dunks (a larvicide used to kill mosquito larvae) to control mosquitoes in areas with standing water and in containers that cannot be dumped.

Mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus bite during the evening, night and early morning. Take precautions to protect yourself and your family during these periods.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk.

Consider using insect repellent containing DEET. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.

For more information on the West Nile Virus and prevention methods, contact your local health department Environmental Health Department.

Saidla could not verify an earlier newspaper report of a fatality in Alabama from the disease:

"The quote that was reported in the newspaper was a misunderstanding in terms of the question that was being asked, and was really more in reference to the gentleman who was 80-years-old and died up in Clayton County, that was confirmed from West Nile Virus."

Click here for more GPB coverage of the health threat.

Chatham Co. steps up anti-mosquito efforts

Chatham County is stepping up aerial spraying for mosquitoes because of an unusually high number of mosquitoes found carrying the West Nile virus.

Thirty mosquito samples have now tested positive for West Nile virus in Chatham County. That's the highest number since 2003.

The mosquito that carries West Nile viris is especially active starting this time of year. Recent rains only compound the problem.

The Chatham County Public Health Department's Doctor Michael Adams says, officials are advising residents to consider themselves at risk.

"The risk is throughout Chatham County," Dr. Adams says. "We should take personal protective measures if we plan on venturing outside."

That means, long clothing and insect repellant with Deet.

Statewide, there have been 20 confirmed cases of West Nile virus, none of them from Chatham County. An 80-year-old Clayton County woman died this month from complications associated with the virus.

Mosquito control is now spraying neighborhoods six days a week by plane, helicopter and truck.

West Nile claims first Georgian this year

The first death this year in Georgia from West Nile virus has been reported. This comes as state health officials grow more concerned about the rise in cases.

An 80-year-old Clayton County man has died from complications of the virus. A spokesperson for the county's Board of Health says the man died last week in an Atlanta-area hospital. He had contracted the virus in late August.

State health officials today updated the number of cases in the state to 20-—that’s more than double the amount for all of 2006. While about half the cases of West Nile are in the metro Atlanta counties, several others are south of Macon, in Augusta, and in the Columbus-area.

Dr Susan Lance is epidemiology director for the Division of Public Health.

"We are very concerned about West Nile virus in Georgia this year. Normally September is our worst month for human cases, and we’re right in the midst of it, and we’d like to get the word out that people need to take precautions".

She says those precautions include wearing long-sleeve clothing outside, avoiding activity during dawn and dusk hours, and removing standing water in areas around a house.

Two more West Nile cases makes 18 for Georgia

Two more cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Georgia. The total of 18 cases for this year far out-paces the eight cases recorded for all of last year. The two newest cases include a 52-year-old Gwinnett County woman--she is said to be in recovery. In southwest Georgia's Mitchell County near Albany, an 82-year-old Mitchell County woman remains in the hospital in intensive care. West Nile is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, often picked up from birds they bite, then spread to people.

Third West Nile case of year

A third human case of West Nile has appeared in DeKalb County. The victim is a 54-year-old Stone Mountain man. Two other cases have appeared in Johnson County and Gwinnett County. West Nile is carried by mosquitoes and most cases occur in late summer and early fall.

Officials see worst West Nile season in years

State health officials say Georgia is on a pace to record its worst West Nile virus season in years. That would be a trend to match the rest of the nation. An official says federal money the state has received to test mosquitoes for the virus has been cut in half this year. Two Georgians have been confirmed as infected with the West Nile virus. Officials say a 52-year-old resident of Johnson County, southwest of Macon carries the virus. A 57-year-old resident in metro Atlanta’s Gwinnett County has also been confirmed as carrying West Nile.

This year's first West Nile cases confirmed

Georgia has its first two human cases of West Nile virus of the year. A 57-year-old in Gwinnett County near Atlanta … and a 52-year-old in Johnson County east of Macon. People get West Nile from infected mosquitoes, although most people don’t get sick. Last year there were nine known cases in Georgia, including one death.

Two mosquito-bourne viruses appear in Georgia

Mosquitos carrying West Nile Virus have been found in Atlanta, a first this summer. Two Georgia counties are also reporting another mosquito-bourne disease.

Fulton County officials who regularly test pools of mosquitos found two places in the city of Atlanta where West Nile was present. So far no human cases of the virus have appeared.

Susan Lance, an epidemiologist with the Georgia Division of Public Health says Fulton county is one a few in Georgia that have an extensive mosquito monitoring program so it’s no surprise that the virus turned up there.

"We suspect it's only because they are looking. We think we probably have positive mosquitoes throughout the state for West Nile virus."

Officials say they also found two horses with Eastern equine encephalitis in Bibb and Lowndes county. The disease is also spread by mosquitos and like West Nile can be fatal in people with weak immune systems.


THREE SIMPLE STEPS TO PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES
From Georgia Department of Human Resources

* Avoid outdoor activity during dawn and dusk. These are the times of day when mosquitoes are most active. Dress appropriately when outdoors.

* Use insect repellant with an EPA-approved active ingredient, such as DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon or Eucalyptus. Always follow the directons on the package for safe and effective use.

* Areas with standing water are locations where mosquitoes will lay eggs.Get rid of or treat standing water with larvicides. Dump out containers such as recycling bins, empty flower pots, and other containers that may collect water. Change water in birdbaths or small wading pools at least once a week.

For more information about West Nile virus, please visit:
http://health.state.ga.us/epi/vbd/mosquito.asp

UGA courts new federal bio-defense lab

If UGA officials get their way, deadly viruses like Ebola and West Nile, may soon be housed at a new multi-million dollar research lab near the university.

The 520-thousand square foot facility is expected to generate hundreds of lab-related jobs.

But environmentalists are saying "no thank you."

Following 9-11, security breaches at the federal bio-defense lab in New York, forced the Department of Homeland Security to build a more secure facility.

Georgia is one of a dozen states now vying for the 47-million dollar governmental research lab.

UGA is one of the finalist sites under consideration.

However, environmentalists like Richard Derose, are saying 'not in my backyard.'

Derose ran for mayor of Athens in 2006.

Derose says, "There's not enough resources or people that you need in place to take care of any kind of emergency. Being at ground zero here, everybody could be exposed."

However, not everyone agrees with Derose's assessment of the potential threat to Athens.

Dr. David Lee heads UGA's bio-lab acquisition team. He is confident UGA and Athens can handle any problems.

"I would not hesitate to move next door to this facility. Honestly, I have kids there. I live here and I have no concern," says Lee, a cancer research specialist with UGA.

Federal officials say they'll narrow the selection of sites this June.

It's expected the winner will be announced by late 2008.

The plant is expected to be operational in 2014.