Maryland reports 1st human case of West Nile virus this year

Key Points:

• The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed the state's first human case of West Nile virus this year, identified in a resident of the Capital Region following earlier detection of the virus in mosquitoes in Anne Arundel County.
• Health officials urge residents to take preventive measures such as using EPA-registered insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and eliminating standing water around homes to reduce mosquito breeding.
• Even small amounts of stagnant water, including in discarded containers and clogged gutters, can serve as mosquito breeding sites, increasing the risk of virus transmission.
• West Nile virus is primarily spread to humans through mosquito bites after mosquitoes feed on infected birds, with rare cases of transmission via organ donation, blood transfusion, breastfeeding, or from mother to fetus.
• While many infected individuals show no symptoms, older adults and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for serious illness; symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, rash, and swollen lymph glands.