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Mosquito Season Winding Down in Georgia

cdc.gov

The peak season for West Nile Virus in our area ends around mid-September, but while, mosquito season is winding down, experts say we should still be aware of potential dangers. Elmer Gray is an entomologist with the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension.

"There have been two deaths caused by mosquito-borne disease, one by West Nile, one by Eastern Equine Encephalitis. We’re right now toward the end of the mosquito season, we’ve got another month or so left, probably.”

He says less rainfall in the area in recent days, is helping keep the pest population in check.

“But on a brighter note, I was out around the community looking, things have dried up a little bit, the mosquito population seems to be a little bit better. There certainly not nearly as much water in the environment as has been earlier in the summer when it was raining so regularly.”

Gray says there are precautions we can take.

“Things are drying up a little that’s a good thing, but people still need to take their precautions of light colored, loose-fitting clothing, and repellants.

There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people.

According to the CDC, most people infected with WNV do not have symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. about 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

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