Home / Health / Chastain Park Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile
Chastain Park Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile
10 Sep
Summary
- Atlanta's Chastain Park is being treated due to a positive West Nile virus mosquito test.
- This is not the first time this year that park mosquitoes tested positive.
- No West Nile virus cases have been reported in Georgia this year.
Chastain Park in Atlanta is being treated for West Nile virus after a mosquito trap returned a positive test result. City officials confirmed the positive finding and have begun treating the affected area within a quarter-mile radius of the trap.
This is not the first time this year that mosquitoes in Chastain Park have tested positive for the virus. The Chastain Park Conservancy was notified by the city about the situation. Following treatment, the area will be retested and signs will be posted to inform park visitors.
West Nile virus, first identified in the U.S. in 1999, can cause severe illness affecting the central nervous system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends preventative measures such as using EPA-registered insect repellent and avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours.
Despite the positive mosquito tests in the park, there have been no reported human cases of West Nile virus in Georgia this year. Public health officials continue to monitor the situation closely.
