Man In Brookhaven Diagnosed With West Nile Virus

BROOKHAVEN, GA -- A Brookhaven resident has been diagnosed with West Nile virus, the city said Wednesday. The results come from a notification from the DeKalb County Board of Health, the city said.

A 72-year-old man has come down with the virus, which is primarily spread through contact with mosquitoes. He is currently hospitalized, Brookhaven said. (To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the BrookhavenPatch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Brookhaven along with the county's Board of Health have been monitoring conditions for the emergence of West Nile for months, the city said.

“In an abundance of caution, we are working with the DeKalb County Board of Health and redoubling our efforts to minimize any exposure to the West Nile virus in Brookhaven,” City Manager Christian Sigman said in a news release. “We are comparing our stormwater drainage maps with the Board of Health maps, to ensure every storm drain is treated with a larvicide which is safe for humans, but interrupts the life cycle of mosquitoes. This includes all of our parks and ponds in the City.”

To date, West Nile-carrying mosquitoes have been found in Brookhaven. Residents are urged to dispose of standing water around their properties and to spray DEET on their bodies if they are engaged in outdoor activities.

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