The Forgotten Mosquito-Borne Illness: West Nile Virus

With so much attention focused on the spread of Zika virus these past two years — albeit warranted due to its outbreak in key cities across the U.S. including Atlanta and Miami — many Americans may have forgotten about another mosquito-borne illness that is even more deadly: West Nile virus.

Contrary to what you may believe, West Nile hasn’t disappeared, but rather grown and is now an unfortunate main stay when it comes to diseases we’re at risk for on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) has recently stated that they believe West Nile to be even more deadly (if that’s even possible) than what was initially thought.

Here’s what you should know to keep you and your family safe from this dangerous virus:

West Nile’s Fatality Rate

The first known case of West Nile virus in the U.S. came all the way back in 1999, and since, 40,000 people have contracted the virus. Of those cases, 20,000 of those infected have died from the mosquito-borne virus, which gives it a fatality rate of 4%.

Unfortunately, experts believe that fatality rate could actually rise over the next few years, as victims who were cured of the virus go on to then die from other diseases; an unfortunate cause of contracting West Nile, which leaves you susceptible to other deadly infections even if you survive the virus itself.

West Nile Symptoms

Similar to that of Zika and yellow fever, a person infected with West Nile will typically experience flu-like symptoms which include fever and rash.

In some cases, the virus will attack the nervous system, which is when it can be deadly. If you or anyone you know is experiencing these symptoms in an area known for mosquitoes that carry West Nile you should seek immediate medical attention.

Fight West Nile With Effective Mosquito Control

As you can see, West Nile is one of the deadliest viruses of the 21st century; and it’s still remains a threat. How do we fight it? With effective mosquito control.

In this day and age, with more and more mosquito-borne illnesses popping up each decade, simple repellents from your local box store just won’t cut it. You and your family need an ultra-effective method for controlling these pests while discouraging the future mosquito population.

If you’re in Atlanta, you should try Mr. Mister. The mosquito control experts at Mr. Mister have been serving Atlanta residents for years to make every home in the city a mosquito-free zone. They do this with their automatic misting systems — which are designed to fit your yard perfectly and disperse a 100% biodegradable misting spray everyday – treating your yard and creating a barrier around your home that no mosquito will be able to penetrate.

For more information on some of Mr. Mister’s other mosquito control techniques, visit their website or contact them directly.

We hope you’re finding our Atlanta Mosquito Control blog helpful and informative! For more information on what makes Mr. Mister Atlanta’s premier provider of innovative mosquito control solutions and techniques click here. Or, visit our Testimonials page to see what some of our satisfied customers are saying.