First case of West Nile Virus confirmed

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (WMAR) - The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) has announced that an adult in Central Maryland is the State's first case of symptomatic West Nile Virus (WNV).

This is the first case of West Nile in the state so far this year. The virus was also detected in a pool of mosquitoes collected in Montgomery County by the U.S. Department of Defense.

"West Nile Virus continues to threaten the health of Maryland residents," said DHMH Secretary Dr. Joshua Sharfstein. "These findings remind us that there are basic we can all take to reduce out risk of getting infected."

Here are some measure that you can take to protect yourself from West Nile Virus:

• Avoid areas of high mosquito activity
• Avoid unnecessary outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active
• Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats when concerned about mosquito exposure
• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent according to package directions

Most individuals infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms. People that do develop illness will usually have any combination of: fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. These symptoms generally appear 3 to 15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito.

For additional information on West Nile virus, visit:

    Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene