West Nile Virus Infects Elderly Tucker Resident

A 79-year-old man living in Tucker has been infected by the West Nile virus, according to DeKalb County's health department. 

The Board of Health reports that this is the first human case of the potentially fatal disease this year in the county, and that the man is currently recovering at home. It is unclear where he contracted the virus.

Beth Ruddiman, spokesperson for the BOH, would not divulge any further information about the man when contacted by Tucker Patch, citing confidentiality issues. "That's all we can release," Ruddiman said.

“It is very unfortunate that one of our DeKalb residents has developed West Nile virus. I hope this will remind everyone to continue using precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” said S. Elizabeth Ford, district health director of the department.

In a statement, the Board of Health's Vickie Elisa said that, this year, more mosquitoes have been collected and tested positive for the virus than in previous years. She did not indicate in which parts of DeKalb County the collections took place.

"This has been a for West Nile virus activity," Elisa said. "Surveillance has shown an abundance of the mosquito species that can carry the virus."

Elisa advises people to take the following precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes:

Reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk, when the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus are most active.

Use an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Apply according to label instructions.

Spray clothing with products containing permethrin. Also apply according to label instructions.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, particularly at dawn and dusk and in areas with large numbers of mosquitoes.

Reduce mosquito breeding in your yard by eliminating standing water in gutters and items such as planters, toys, wheelbarrows and old tires.

Discourage mosquitoes from resting in your yard by trimming tall grass, weeds and vines.

Make sure window and door screens fit tightly to keep mosquitoes out of your home.

For more information, contact the DeKalb County Board of Health at (404) 508- 7871 or visit the website.