West Nile Virus is Here
WNV Established on Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 8, 2004) - Mosquito season is officially underway in Maryland.   The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) mosquito control office, with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, is conducting state-wide surveillance activities to monitor mosquito populations and detect mosquito-borne viruses of public health concern. Surveillance activities for adult mosquitoes use traps and landing rate counts. 

"For the first time, we know we are beginning the season with a significant presence of West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes on the Eastern Shore and in Southern Maryland," says Maryland Department of Agriculture Mosquito Control Chief Cyrus Lesser. "The risk of infection by the virus can be reduced by avoiding exposure to mosquitoes and by eliminating standing water, which the insects need to develop.  It is important for Maryland residents, especially in the most mosquito-infested areas, to take actions that can help protect humans as well as horses against West Nile virus.   Many rural residents tend to discount mosquitoes because they are so common.   However, the widespread occurrence of West Nile virus elevates the status of mosquitoes in Maryland from annoying pests to vectors of disease." 

Most mosquitoes do not pose a threat to public health because they are not infected with viruses or other pathogens. Less than one percent of people bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus will become ill. People most at risk for developing symptoms of the disease are generally those over 50 and those with already compromised immune systems; however, all residents should continue to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites. These measures include:

*   Avoid unnecessary outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active;
*   Wear light clothing, long pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats when outdoors;
*   Use mosquito repellents registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency according to label directions;
*   Vaccinate horses, mules, and donkeys according to your veterinarian's advice;
*   Remove standing water from flower pots, tarps, trash receptacles, and other containers;
*   Flush pet food and water bowls and bird baths regularly;
*   Remove unnecessary water-holding containers; and
*   Report large areas of standing water to MDA's mosquito control office.

For more information about mosquito-borne diseases, contact your local health department. The following websites are available to provide additional information: arboviral encephalitis, www.edcp.org/factsheets/arboviral.html; West Nile virus, www.edcp.org/factsheets/wnv_fact.html and www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/wnv/wnv.html; the MDA, www.mda.state.md.us, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/.