Health department confirms first case of West Nile virus in Maryland this year

MARYLAND ( DC News Now ) — Maryland health officials announced the state’s first confirmed positive case of West Nile virus this year.

The Maryland Department of Health (DOH) announced Monday that an adult living near Baltimore tested positive. That person has since recovered.

The DOH said that mosquitoes infect humans with West Nile virus after feeding on infected birds. On rare occasions, humans can give the disease to each other through breastfeeding, organ donation or blood transfusions. It is also possible for a pregnant mother to pass it to a fetus.

Officials said that up to 80% of the people who get infected will not have any symptoms, but people with any pre-existing health conditions can become very sick. West Nile virus affects the nervous system, and symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, skin rashes and swollen lymph glands.

DOH said that the virus was first detected in 1999. In 2023, seven people in Maryland were confirmed to have contracted West Nile virus.

In order to avoid becoming sick, DOH said that you should cover any exposed skin and use an EPA-approved insect repellent. You should also monitor yards and gardens for mosquitoes – they tend to gather around standing water, which serves as a breeding ground.

You can find more information about West Nile virus on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

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