LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. — Mosquito season is back in Lowndes County and it has arrived a little early this year.
The health department says one horse has already tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis or EEE.
Mosquito season in Lowndes County usually starts in late March. But after a horse tested positive for EEE, health officials are sounding the warning bells now.
The Georgia Department of Health says one reason why mosquitoes are active early maybe because this winter was warmer and wetter than usual. Mosquitoes thrive in those conditions and that means mosquitoes can be expected to flourish in Lowndes County this season.
Luckily, horses cannot pass along the virus to humans. But if mosquitoes pass the disease to humans, it can lead to other serious health problems.
"The more severe side of it you have encephalopathy and you can have anorexia, it can actually put you into a coma, and 1 in 3 that have severe illness can die," said Kenneth Lowry, District Epidemiologist.
There are many tips to stay clear of mosquitoes this season, but here are three common ones: use insect repellent, wear long sleeves if appropriate, and keep windows closed.
Mosquitoes season tends to last through the whole summer.
