VALDOSTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed a resident tested positive for West Nile Virus in Ben Hill County, and a horse recently tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Lowndes County.

In July, a horse tested positive for EEE in Brooks County. 

Public health officials in South Georgia encourage everyone to guard against exposure to mosquitoes. 

“Mosquito-borne illnesses are spread through the bite of an infected mosquito,” said Dr. William Grow, MD, FACP, district health director. “The more time someone is outdoors, the more time the person is at risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito; that is why we encourage everyone to take all precautions against mosquito bites.”

The South Health District advises people to take the following precautions:

— Use insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or PMD. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.

— Any containers that can collect water should be discarded or dumped daily.

— Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk to reduce the amount of exposed skin, as weather permits.

— Avoid being outdoors from dusk to dawn, peak mosquito biting times, if possible.

— Set up outdoor fans to keep mosquitoes from flying near you.

“While most people infected with West Nile Virus show no symptoms of the illness and pass it on their own, even healthy people have become severely ill for weeks when infected,” Grow said. “EEE is extremely rare in humans; however, it is extremely concerning because it involves inflammation of the brain.”

Symptoms of West Nile Virus include headache, fever, neck discomfort, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that usually develops two to 14 days after being infected, according to the press release. The elderly, people with compromised immune systems or people with other underlying conditions are at greater risk for complications from the disease. 

Severe cases of EEE begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills and vomiting. 

There is no vaccine for humans for mosquito-borne diseases, nor is there a specific treatment, according to the health department. People with severe cases are hospitalized and receive supportive care such as intravenous fluids and respiratory treatment. 

The best protection is to avoid being bitten. Horses can be vaccinated for some mosquito-borne diseases by contacting a local veterinarian.

For more information about mosquito-borne diseases, visit www.cdc.gov/.