A mosquito collection from a DeKalb County Board of Health’s sampling station in Decatur has been reported as positive for West Nile virus, the city announced Thursday.
"While the potential for WNV transmission exists throughout the metro area, this WNV positive collection does indicate a higher risk at this time in this area," the city said in a statement on its blog. "The DeKalb County Board of Health is aggressively working to prevent transmission of West Nile virus or any additional mosquito‐borne virus including chikungunya or Zika."
Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms or experience mild flu‐like symptoms, but the virus potentially can cause serious and sometimes fatal illness.
"The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite is low. The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill," the city said.
West Nile virus can be prevented best by preventing mosquito bites.
Program technicians are expected to be in the area providing additional mosquito control services including applying larvicide and investigating for mosquito breeding sites. The larvicide product will keep mosquito larvae from developing into flying biting insects.
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