Hi, Atlanta!

I’ve learned the hard way that mosquito bites can bring more than just an annoying itch. When I lived in New Delhi, India, years ago, I contracted dengue fever – a virus spread by mosquitoes. Ever since, I’ve been a bit of a zealot about preventing bites. 

I’ll be redoubling my efforts and stocking up on DEET since the Fulton County Board of Health announced over the weekend that mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus in Hapeville and Northwest Atlanta. 

West Nile is spread to humans by mosquitoes, typically Culex mosquitoes that become infected when they bite infected birds. The mosquitoes can then transmit the disease to people, horses, and other mammals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Georgia saw 53 human cases last year, according to the CDC, and this year the state has reported one case, in Muscogee County on the west side of the state. 

There is a link between climate change and the spread of West Nile, Dr. Matthew Collins of Emory University told Healthbeat last year. However, it’s not a straight line: There are “multiple factors” that include the location of bird and mosquito populations, temperature, and rainfall. 

Many people infected with West Nile virus feel no or mild symptoms, and those cases are likely to go unreported, Collins said. Other people may have more moderate symptoms like rash, fever, headache, an upset stomach or diarrhea that will last for a few days and then subside. However, some people contract a “neuroinvasive” form of the disease that can cause paralysis. About half of the 49 cases reported nationwide this year are neuroinvasive, according to the CDC. 

Georgia’s mosquito season can last into November. You can protect yourself by using DEET-based repellents, staying indoors at their peak hours (dusk and dawn), wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and removing any standing water where mosquitoes can breed.