The city of Brookhaven and DeKalb County Board of Health issued an alert today, July 22, that West Nile Virus has been reported in the Ashford Park area of the city.

“A mosquito collection from a DeKalb County Board of Health sampling station in the Ashford Park area has been reported as positive for West Nile Virus,” states a press release.

While West Nile Virus exists throughout metro Atlanta, the positive collection in Ashford Park means there is a greater risk of transmission in this area at this time.

The best way to avoid West Nile Virus is to prevent mosquito bites by applying mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and long pants, and use extra care from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Most people infected by the West Nile Virus have no symptoms or experience mild flu-like symptoms, the virus can potentially can cause serious and sometimes fatal illness, according to a press release.

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/prevention/index.html.

The DeKalb County Board of Health recommends eliminating containers and other breeding sites which may hold water for five or more days. For example, dumping bird baths, scrubbing them and rinsing them twice a week. Also, gutters should be cleaned to make sure they drain properly.

For more information about West Nile virus, refer to the following web sites:

* http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/

* http://dekalbhealth.net/envhealth/west-nile-virus/

Contact the Division of Environmental Health at 404-508-7900 with any questions or concerns on this matter.