You are being urged to take precautions to guard yourself from mosquito bites. The Georgia Department of health has confirmed the first human cases of West Nile virus in the state this year. One was in metro Atlanta and the other was in northeast Georgia.

The mosquito-borne illness can cause aches, fever and in rare cases, death. The state says they are seeing a lot more mosquitoes carrying the virus this year. You are being urged to protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent, wearing long sleeves while outside and getting rid of any standing water.

Last year, Georgia saw an increase in West Nile virus cases — 48 human cases, including seven deaths.

Most people (8 out of 10) infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord).

Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

Severe illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at greater risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk.

Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.

About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.