Annapolis, Maryland (August 18, 2023) – The Anne Arundel County Department of Health announced that mosquitoes trapped in two areas of the county tested positive for West Nile virus. The areas are Cox Creek near Curtis Bay and Ponder Cove by Selby-On-The-Bay in Edgewater. At this time, no human cases have been reported in Anne Arundel County.
These results represent the fourth group of mosquito pools that have tested positive for West Nile virus in the county this year. Residents are reminded to protect themselves from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases. To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, residents should:
- Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.
- Wear long sleeves and pants. Create a barrier to mosquito bites by covering up.
- Remove standing water. Emptying out water that collects in toys, tires, trash cans, buckets, clogged rain gutters and plant pots will prevent mosquitoes a place to lay their eggs and reproduce.
- Keep all swimming pools chlorinated and filtered. Backyard ponds should include fish to control mosquito larvae.
- Consider using EPA-registered repellent such as those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone.
- Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect infants when outdoors.
Weather permitting, The Maryland Department of Agriculture is scheduled for Monday, August 21, 2023 in the evening near the areas where the mosquitos pools were identified. Those areas are near the intersection of Fort Smallwood Road and Wagner Station Road, as well as Route 214 and Selby Boulevard. Questions about spraying should be directed to the Maryland Department of Agriculture or call the Mosquito Control Program at 410-841-5870.
West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite. Most people exposed to the virus don’t get sick, but about 20 percent develop symptoms like headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and fatigue. The current warm weather and high humidity provides ideal conditions for mosquito activity and West Nile virus transmission. The Anne Arundel County Department of Health is reminding residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases.