West Nile Virus heats up battle against mosquitoes

ALBANY - Humans versus mosquitoes: The South&#39;s annual war against the bloodsucking insects is usually just a battle to prevent the nasty, itchy bites that the pests inflict on almost everyone who goes outside during warm weather. <br> <br> But this year, after the region&#39;s first deaths due to mosquito-borne West Nile Virus, the humans are pulling out the big guns. <br> <br> Donell Mathis, the chief mosquito fighter in southwest Georgia&#39;s Dougherty County, says studies show that the virus is here for a while and they&#39;re going to have to do everything they can to control the mosquito population. <br> <br> Mathis and two technicians are putting out mosquito monitoring traps for the first time this spring and will attend classes to help them identify the 14 mosquito species that are known to carry the virus. <br> <br> The technicians use chemical sprays, known as adulticides, to kill adult mosquitos. They have other weapons, known as larvicides, for fighting immature mosquitos in standing water. Larvicides include chemicals, growth-disrupting hormones and alcohol solutions that suffocate the pests. <br> <br> West Nile Virus has sickened 149 humans and killed 18 since its discovery in the New York City area in 1999. There were 66 cases and nine deaths last year.