This summer, the threat by mosquitoes in Georgia will depend greatly on the weather conditions, the experts said.
Mosquitoes which carry West Nile will develop in storm drains when it is dry, said Elmer Gray, entomologist in the University of Georgia.
Mosquitoes which carry Zika virus develop when it is wet, as well as in the containers, Gray told to WABE Radio
"If it's dry we have one type of mosquito that flourishes. If it's wet we have other types of mosquitoes that flourish. So how the season plays out and what's our biggest threat relates to what the weather conditions produce," Gray said.
The other factor is based on how many number of people and mosquitoes have the virus in any given area, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman, Tom Skinner.
Skinner also said that while he expects to see a couple of cases of Zika virus, it is unlikely that United States will see a widespread transmission of the virus.
"Even when we have local transmission, we don't have the big, infectious outbreaks like you see in other countries. People use air conditioners here. People have screens on their windows. Things like that result in the less likelihood people will actually be bitten by mosquitoes," Skinner said.
Georgia has already seen a case of Zika virus in this year, as per the CDC's website. The state also sees about 10 to 15 cases of West Nile in a year, reported by WABE.
Some of the Georgia counties, such as Fulton County, have already begun spraying for the mosquitoes.
In the year 2001, after Georgia saw the first case of the West Nile virus, the Fulton County has started its mosquito control program,reported the radio station. Because of the other mosquito-borne diseases, like Zika, Fulton County has continued the mosquito control program, said the county's health director, Kathleen Toomey.
Gwinnett and Cobb counties do not spray for the mosquitoes, but they do offer the preventative education - like reminding the people to use bug spray and also pour out standing water, the WABE reported.
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