Maryland Residents Reminded to
Take Basic Steps to Reduce Risk
Baltimore, Md (July 23, 2018) – The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today
announced the first confirmed and locally acquired case of West Nile Virus
(WNV) in Maryland this year. The infected individual is an adult who lives in
the Baltimore Metro region. MDH routinely tracks and responds to mosquito-borne
infections, including Zika virus, and no other locally acquired arboviral
infections have been identified this year.
The number of human WNV cases in Maryland has
varied over time. The peak years of human activity occurred in 2003 and 2012,
with 73 and 47 WNV cases reported statewide, respectively. In 2015, there were
46 human cases of WNV infection in Maryland, nearly reaching the 2012 peak.
Marylanders are reminded that they can take simple steps to
reduce the risk of getting infected. Those protective measures include:
Most individuals infected with WNV will not have any symptoms. Those who do
develop illness usually will have any combination of fever, headache, body
aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands. These symptoms generally appear two
to 14 days following the bite of an infected mosquito. Fewer than one percent
of individuals exposed to the virus will develop more severe infections, with
symptoms such as headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation,
coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
In rare instances, WNV can be fatal. Individuals older than 60 have the
greatest risk of developing severe disease. Individuals with compromised immune
systems also may be at high risk of WNV infection.
Marylanders are urged to monitor their own yards and gardens for standing water
that can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Small amounts of water in a
discarded can or container will support dozens of mosquitoes. To eliminate
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will conduct
larvicidal and spraying activities within a three-quarter mile radius of where
the individual resides. Routine spray operations will continue in all other
participating communities throughout the state.
Although birds are not routinely tested for WNV in Maryland,
sick or injured birds can be reported to an appropriate local wildlife
rehabilitator. Residents can call 1-877-463-6497 for a list of licensed
rehabilitators or visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website at http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/rehabilitators.aspx.
Detailed instructions on what to do when you find a sick or dead bird can be
found at http://dnr.maryland.gov/Wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/wildlifeproblems.aspx.
MDH provides weekly updates of WNV detected in humans,
mosquitoes, and horses in Maryland on its website. For each case, MDH indicates
whether the infected individual is a child or an adult, and the region of the
state where the individual resides. The reports are updated every Wednesday and
can be found at https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/CZVBD/pages/Data-and-Statistics.aspx.
information on WNV, visit MDH at https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/CZVBD/Pages/west-nile-virus.aspx, MDA at http://mda.maryland.gov/AnimalHealth/Pages/Diseases.aspx, and
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/westnile.
Marylanders who need help finding substance
use disorder treatment resources should visit http://goo.gl/nIfGm0 or
call Maryland Crisis Connect, which provides 24/7 support, at 211, press 1. For
information on many of the policies currently implemented to fight addiction
and overdose in Maryland, see http://goo.gl/KvEzQw. If
you know of someone in need of treatment for a substance use disorder,
treatment facilities can be located by location and program characteristics on
our page at http://goo.gl/rbGF6S.
201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-2399
(410) 767-6500 or 1-877-463-3464