Coweta County officials confirmed

this week that the deadly West Nile virus has been discovered in the county.

According to Environmental

Health officials, a dead hawk was turned into the department for testing

in early August.

The bird was discovered near

Marion Beavers Road in Sharpsburg and officials learned this week it tested

positive for the virus.

Environmental Health officials

said the most important thing in preventing the spread of the disease

is to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

The Coweta County Environmental

Health Department has a few tips on how to deal with these pesky pests.

All mosquitoes need standing

water for the first stages of development, by eliminating stagnant water

around your homes the adults will not have a place to lay their eggs.

Throwaway anything that can collect water such as old tire cans buckets

uncovered jars, plant pots, old kiddy pools and toys. Clean gutters and

downspouts and flat roofs. Stack anything that can hold water such as

wheelbarrows, tubs, boats, canoes, barrels and buckets upside down so

that water cannot accumulate in them.

Scrub birdbaths, pet dishes

and small pools and refill with clean water at least twice weekly. When

watering lawns or gardens try not to leave puddles. Eliminate water holding

tree stumps and fill holes in trees. Maintain pools and hot tubs with

proper filtration, cover any pools that are not in use and do not allow

water to collect on the covers.

In ponds and water gardens

keep fish that will eat the mosquito larvae. Repair leaky pipes and outside

faucets. Please encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Second, keep mosquitoes out

of your home using tight fitting window and door screens, replace or repair

any screens with holes or tears. Check all screened porches for any entry

places. Keep grass and weeds mowed, especially on banks next to water,

to reduce the adult mosquitoes' resting places.

Third, one can use insect repellents

with no more than 30 percent DEET, but use sparingly. Use products with

15 percent or less DEET for children.

Do not use any product with

DEET on babies. Use sparingly, and always follow the directions on the

container. After exposure has ended be sure and wash treated skin with

soap and water.

Many of these products are

only good for only up to 4 hours, depending on wind, temperature, humidity

and sweating.

Last, cover up. Wear long sleeves

and long pants, socks and shoes. Some mosquitoes can still bite through

loose clothing, but not as well. Or avoid being outside when mosquitoes

are active, such as early morning and evening.

Bug zappers are not a good

means of controlling mosquitoes, they will kill more bugs that kill mosquitoes

than they kill mosquitoes. Citronella candles and torches are only effective

of there is not a breeze, and should be used outdoors.

Electronic repellers have not

proven effective.

More information on mosquito

abatement can be found at the County Extensions Office on East Washington

Street or you can call them at 770-254-2620. You can also call Coweta

County Environmental Health, 770-254-7422.

Birds can be tested for West

Nile Virus only to determine if there are mosquitoes with the virus in

the area. The birds themselves cannot transmit the virus, they only die

from it. Because the state laboratories do not have the facilities to

test every dead bird in the state there are some guidelines as to what

can be tested.

Birds of prey, such as hawks,

crows and blue jays seem to be more susceptible to the virus therefore

only these types of birds will be tested. Once the bird has died the virus

also dies quickly, therefore birds that have been dead and not refrigerated

for longer than a few hours cannot be tested.

The most important thing to

remember is that if the mosquito population is kept to a minimum then

the risk of exposure to the virus is reduced, officials said.

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