South Georgia expecting West Nile year round

ATLANTA - State officials say they can&#39;t predict whether this season&#39;s West Nile activity will be greater than the last, but they do expect virus transmission throughout the year in south Georgia. <br> <br> Officials have confirmed the state&#39;s first bird case of the West Nile virus this year, which came months sooner than last year&#39;s initial spring activity. <br> <br> An infectious disease epidemiologist -- Doctor Susan Lance-Parker -- said Wednesday the dead bird was found January sixth in Liberty County in southeast Georgia. She believes the bird is evidence that there is year-round West Nile activity in the southern part of the state. <br> <br> State officials are working to expand statewide mosquito surveillance for the virus and also educate more people about the virus. <br> <br> Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 43 human cases of the virus and seven deaths from it in Georgia. the virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes that have bitten diseased birds -- the virus&#39; host animal.

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