STATENVILLE — An Echols County resident has contracted the West Nile Virus, according to the South Health District of the Georgia Department of Public Health.

It is the first human case of West Nile Virus diagnosed this year in South Georgia, according to health officials. Albany had a human case of West Nile last year.

So far this summer, three horses have tested positive for mosquito-borne diseases in Brooks, Cook and Lowndes counties.

To prevent the spread of West Nile Virus, health officials encourage preventing exposure to mosquitoes.

“Mosquito-borne illnesses are spread through the bite of an infected mosquito,” said Kenneth Lowery, district epidemiologist. “The more time someone is outdoors, the more time the person is at risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito; that is why we encourage everyone to take all precautions against mosquito bites.”

Health officials urge people to take the following precautions:

— Use insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or PMD. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.

— Any containers that can collect water should be discarded or dumped daily.

— Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk to reduce the amount of exposed skin, as weather permits.

— Avoid being outdoors from dusk to dawn, peak mosquito biting times, if possible.

— Set up outdoor fans to keep mosquitoes from flying near you.

“While most people infected with West Nile Virus show no symptoms of the illness and pass it on their own, even healthy people have become severely ill for weeks when infected,” Lowery said.

West Nile symptoms include headache, fever, neck discomfort, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that usually develops two to 14 days after being infected, according to health officials.

“The elderly, those with compromised immune systems or those with other underlying conditions are at greater risk for complications from the disease,” according to a health department statement. “There is no West Nile Virus vaccine for humans nor is there a specific treatment. People with severe cases are hospitalized and receive supportive care such as intravenous fluids and respiratory treatment. The best protection is to avoid being bitten. Horses can be vaccinated for some mosquito-borne diseases by contacting a local veterinarian.”

For more information about mosquito-borne diseases, visit www.cdc.gov/.