Chatham, Bryan Co. residents warned to take precautions against mosquito bites due to virus

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Coastal Health District is alerting residents of Chatham and Bryan Counties to take precautions against mosquito bites after a chicken in the area tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE, pronounced “triple-E”).

EEE is a mosquito-borne virus that causes swelling of the brain. In horses, it is fatal 70 to 90 percent of the time.

In a press release, the Coastal Health District said that Chatham County Mosquito Control routinely tests mosquitoes and chickens throughout the county, checking for the presence of mosquito-borne viruses that can be transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.

Mosquito control was notified of a positive test result in a chicken on September 9, 2025.

The chicken was located in the southwestern area of Chatham County, near Bryan County.

Mosquito control has been spraying in the area to reduce the mosquito population and will continue to do so.

Horse and large animal owners are encouraged to vaccinate their animals against the virus and to clean out watering sources, such as buckets and troughs, every three to four days to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Although rare in humans, EEE can be very serious.

Most people infected with EEE do not show illness, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, severe cases can cause ongoing neurologic problems and death.

Symptoms in severe cases of EEE include a sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting.

There are no human vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat EEE.

According to the Department of Public Health, you can reduce your risk of infection with EEE virus by following the “5Ds” of mosquito bite prevention:

• Dusk/Dawn: Avoid dusk and dawn activities during the summer when mosquitoes are most active.
• Dress: Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants to reduce the amount of exposed skin.
• DEET: Cover exposed skin with an insect repellent containing the DEET or picaridin, which is the most effective repellent against mosquito bites.
• Drain: Empty any containers holding standing water - buckets, barrels, flowerpots, tarps - because they are breeding grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.
• Doors: Make sure doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly, and fix torn or damaged screens to keep mosquitoes out of the house.

When Mosquito Control is spraying next in Chatham County

According to Chatham County Mosquito Control, the next planned treatment zone is the area south of Jimmy Deloach Pkwy to HWY 80 and west of I-95 beginning one hour prior to sunset on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Pending weather conditions, residents of these areas can expect to see low flying yellow aircraft near sunset.