New Cases of Zika Virus Confirmed In Maryland: CDC

The number of Zika virus cases in Maryland has increased, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control.

There are now 25 confirmed cases of the virus in Maryland, up from 19 cases on June 3. All of those people were infected with the disease while traveling to areas overseas where there are outbreaks of the virus, the CDC data shows.

The Maryland cases were not broken down by region or county. Click here to view the full map of cases in the United States that the CDC updated Thursday.

Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook.

The CDC has confirmed that the virus is responsible for causing severe defects in unborn children, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and often with brains that do not develop properly.

In total there are 756 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the United States; 234 of those cases are among pregnant women.

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization. Aside from mosquitoes, Zika can be spread through sexual contact in some cases, the CDC notes.

Pregnant women are highly discouraged from traveling to Zika-infected areas (Central and South America and the Caribbean), say medical officials.

• »SEE ALSO: Mosquito Invasion: Tips from Maryland's Bug Guy

Meanwhile, authorities are scrambling to prevent the spread of the disease in the United States. Zika is spread by a specific type of mosquito — the Aedes aegypti mosquito. There is currently no vaccine for the virus.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were once thought to be a threat to only the southern United States. But the CDC map shows the mosquitoes reaching as far north as New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Maryland's Department of Agriculture began spraying parts of the state in late May to kill mosquitoes. If there is a high risk of Zika virus transmission due to mosquito activity or a human case of Zika, the agriculture department will spray for adult mosquitoes within 24 to 48 hours in a target area to kill any adult mosquitoes that may carry the virus.

Zika symptoms

In most cases of Zika, there are no symptoms. In a few cases, Zika can trigger paralysis (Guillain-Barré Syndrome).

When present, symptoms are mild and last less than a week. They include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. There's no vaccine or specific treatment. Instead the focus is on relieving symptoms and includes rest, re-hydration and acetaminophen for fever and pain. Aspirin and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen should be avoided.

Tips from Maryland’s Bug Guy blog to avoid mosquito bites:

• Apply mosquito repellent to exposed skin before you go outdoors. He recommends any brand that contains up to 30 percent DEET.
• Place a small fan on your patio if you eat outdoors. The light breeze created by the fan will greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes flying and biting.
• Eliminate standing water by cleaning your gutters, dumping your birdbath twice a week, turning over your wheelbarrow, emptying the wading pool, and getting rid of water-filled containers.
• Add a soil microbe known as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a.k.a. Bti, to an aquatic water garden or standing water on your property that could breed mosquitoes. The microbe comes in doughnut-shaped tablets that can be placed in water to kill mosquito larvae.

The CDC offers these tips to prevent the spread of the disease:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol.
• To prevent the spread of sexually-transmitted Zika, condoms should be used properly.

"We do not know how long the virus can stay in the semen of men who have had Zika, and how long the virus can be spread through sex," the CDC says.