Mosquito traps in both Fulton and DeKalb counties have tested positive for West Nile virus, and recent heavy rainfall is creating fresh breeding grounds just as residents spend more time outdoors.
The Fulton County Board of Health issued updated prevention guidance after the positive results were confirmed, Atlanta News First reported Saturday, Aug. 1. A First Alert Weather Day on Sunday, Aug. 2, is expected to bring more rain to the metro Atlanta area, compounding the problem.
Johns Creek sits squarely in Fulton County's jurisdiction. As we reported July 23, the health board first confirmed a positive trap in the Grant Park area of East Atlanta on July 7. The detection in DeKalb County marks a geographic expansion of the confirmed threat.
Fulton County residents are already feeling the surge.
"They've been terrible," Alfonso Rubio told Atlanta News First on Friday, July 31. "We just came back from our picnic and I swear I have about 15 mosquito bites in the span of 30 minutes."
Connor Moring, another Fulton County resident, said he has noticed more mosquitoes than usual over the past couple of weeks, particularly while doing yard work.
The 2026 season is tracking as the worst early-season West Nile outbreak nationally in more than two decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 48 cases as of June 30, nearly five times the historical average of about 10 by that date. Peak transmission typically runs August through September.
Most people infected with West Nile virus show no symptoms. About 1 in 5 develop mild flu-like illness, including fever, headache, and body aches. In roughly 1 in 150 cases, the virus causes severe neurological disease that can result in permanent damage or death. No vaccine or antiviral treatment exists.
What the health board recommends
The Fulton County Board of Health advises residents to follow the "5 Ds" of mosquito prevention:
- Dusk and Dawn: Avoid outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most active.
- Dress: Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing.
- DEET: Use insect repellent containing DEET.
- Drain: Empty standing water from buckets, barrels, flowerpots, and tarps.
- Doors: Repair window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out.
The health board also recommends trimming overgrown grass and weeds around homes.
When positive traps are confirmed, the board works with a mosquito control vendor to treat affected areas and sends staff to surrounding neighborhoods to educate residents. No specific spraying schedule for the Johns Creek area has been announced.
Residents can contact the Fulton County Board of Health at (770) 520-7500 or visit fultoncountyboh.com for updates.
