As summer nears, state warns about next round of West Nile

ATLANTA - As the weather warms, state health officials are urging Georgians to help block the next round of the dangerous West Nile virus by stopping the mosquitoes that spread the disease. <br> <br> The state&#39;s recommendations include using plenty of mosquito repellant, getting rid of standing water outdoors where the bugs can breed and keeping grass and weeds in check. <br> <br> State health director Doctor Kathleen Toomey said, ``The important thing is to start doing this now, before mosquitoes become a problem.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The virus infected six people in Georgia last year, including an elderly Atlanta woman who died in August. The disease showed up in birds and horses in 58 of the state&#39;s 159 counties. <br> <br> As they did last year, state health officials asked Georgians to report dead birds to county health authorities. They will test crows, blue jays and birds of prey -- the species that most commonly carry West Nile. <br> <br> West Nile virus has sickened 149 humans and killed 18 since its discovery in the New York area in 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 66 cases and nine deaths last year.