First Human Case of West Nile in Georgia Confirmed

August may be the eighth month on the calendar, but it is the first month of 2019 in which a case of West Nile virus has been confirmed.

Health officials confirmed the diagnosis ahead of the weekend. An elderly man from southwest Georgia has been hospitalized due to some of his underlying medical conditions. The Mitchell County  man’s case is the first human infection of 2019

The Georgia Department of Public Health spokeswoman Nancy Nydam confirmed to 11Alive in Atlanta on Friday that the case is the first human case of West Nile confirmed in the peach state this year. In 2018, a reported 36 West Nile infections and two deaths were marked in the books.

West Nile virus is transferred from mosquitoes to humans. In some cases, West Nile can be deadly – especially with other health problems or in instances of the elderly – but most people experience headaches, fever, and fatigue…if any symptoms at all. 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.

The Center for Disease Control & Prevention recommends that those venturing outdoors in the summer and fall months use insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites.