The risk of contacting the West Nile virus has increased this weekend due to the three-day Labor Day holiday. Health officials warned the population to be aware of the virus’ risk and thus try to take special precautions to avoid mosquito bites during the holiday weekend.

"We know people are going to be out enjoying the holiday and we sure want them to be taking precautions, using insect repellent and making sure you've got door and window screens on your house," said Howard Sutter, spokesman for the Health Care Agency.

A 64 year old man died this month in Orange County, California and a 75 year old man from Carle Place on Long Island, New York died from West Nile on Monday. His lack of precaution led to his death. His wife told that he started to have trouble walking and ended up becoming totally paralyzed from the neck down.

Humans get contaminated with the West Nile virus through mosquito bytes which previously got it by feeding on infected birds. However, the virus cannot be transmitted from birds to man.

Although most people who are infected have no symptoms or seem to have a mild flu, the “classic” symptoms include a fever and headache, body aches and sometimes a rash and swollen lymph glands. 

Moreover, an American crow has tested positive for the West Nile virus in Cobb County, the Georgia Public Health Laboratory reported Friday. According to public health experts, the best ways to avoid the disease are to prevent mosquitoes from breeding around your home, therefore avoid any standing waters in the nearby surroundings and to practice personal protection to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.