Health experts urge mosquito bite prevention after patient spent 7 days in Memorial Hospital with West Nile Virus

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A person in Chatham County who tested positive for West Nile virus spent a week in the hospital.

Chatham County is currently in peak season for West Nile virus, according to Chris Rustin, director of the Chatham County Health Department and Ture Carlson, the Chatham County Mosquito Control Director.

“It’s not a time to be alarmed,” Rustin said. “But it is a time to focus on prevention.”

The virus can only transfer to people through mosquito bites, specifically the southern house mosquito.

Most cases show few symptoms

Tim Connelly, an internal medicine physician with Memorial Health, said severe risk from the virus is low.

“The majority of people either have minimal symptoms or no symptoms,” Connelly said.

Connelly said one person recently spent a week in the hospital recovering from the virus.

“It did affect the central nervous system in this individual, but it was a great outcome, they had good supportive care, however West Nile is something we do see time to time,” Connelly said.

Connelly said a small portion of the population is advised to be more concerned about the virus.

“And there’s only a small portion of the population that we really council to worry about this, people in extremes of age, people on certain CD20 medications which is usually people fighting lymphoma, leukemia and with MS,” Connelly said.

Mosquito behavior and prevention

According to Chatham County Mosquito Control, the southern house mosquito is a “sneaky biter” that strikes most often at dawn and dusk.

“Mosquitoes that bite humans typically live close to homes,” Rustin said.

Rustin said one key prevention measure is emptying stagnant water, where the southern house mosquito lays its eggs.

Connelly said symptoms of West Nile virus are nonspecific but can develop into serious issues. They said unexplained confusion, muscle aches and fever can indicate the virus has entered the central nervous system, and anyone experiencing those symptoms should contact a medical professional immediately.