Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile (L.C.) Virus have been found in Anne Arundel County, the third positive test in Maryland this year after years of declines.
“Mosquitoes that are positive for West Nile virus are a rare event; less than one-tenth of 1 percent are positive,” said Mike Cantwell, entomologist for the Maryland Department of Agriculture. “Our peak year was in 2003, and since that time, the incidence of West Nile virus in mosquitoes and in human cases has been declining.”
Three people have also tested positive for West Nile this year, including one in Baltimore County, though the only case confirmed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene so far was in Worcester County.
Mosquitoes collected Sept. 4 in the CapeSt. Claire area of Anne Arundel County tested positive. The U.S. Department of Defense reported positive mosquitoes in Montgomery County, and a federal test in Prince George?s County also came back positive.
“The confirmation of virus-positive mosquitoes serves as a reminder to all residents to continue protecting themselves against mosquito bites and to conduct backyard mosquito control activities,” state Secretary of Agriculture Roger Richardson said in a statement. Findings of positive mosquitoes in one area are a good indication that the virus infects mosquitoes across the region, he previously said.
Dry summers have kept the water-dependent mosquitoes at bay, according to a state Agriculture Department release, but they can breed in the amount of water it takes to fill an upended bottle cap.
About one in five people who get infected will have symptoms mimicking a severe flu that can last from a few days to weeks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 150 patients can experience numbness, paralysis and permanent neurological damage.
Protect yourself from the West Nile virus:
» Avoid unnecessary outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
» Wear insect repellents, according to product labels.
» Wear long sleeves and long pants.
» Install, inspect and repair window and door screens in homes and stables.
» Find and remove any standing water from flowerpots, tarps, trash receptacles and other containers.
» Flush pet food and water bowls and birdbaths regularly.
Source: Maryland Department of Agriculture
