Zika Virus Prompts Spraying for Mosquitoes July 7 in Anne Arundel County

Annapolis, MD — Increased mosquito counts mean that spraying to kill the insets will begin Thursday night in Anne Arundel County, say state health officials, because of the health concerns over possible mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus and Zika virus.

Mosquito control truck-based spraying will start about 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, weather permitting, in the Cypress Pointe community in Severna Park, county officials said.

Any existing spray exemptions in the area will be temporarily suspended, says the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and residents should avoid outdoor activities on spray nights.

As a follow up, within 24-48 hours of the spraying, state and local inspectors will go door-to-door in the area to check properties for mosquito breeding sites and will conduct backyard spraying, as needed, to further kill mosquitoes.

There are now 31 confirmed cases of the virus in Maryland, according to data released July 6 by the Centers for Disease Control. 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.

Residents should take steps to guard against Zika transmission given the link between Zika infection of pregnant women and the occurrence of birth defects in their babies. According to the CDC, Zika virus is chiefly spread through mosquito bites, though less frequently, transmission via sexual contact, blood transfusion and to newborns during pregnancy has been documented.

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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.

People attending outdoor events this weekend and throughout mosquito season should use mosquito repellant with DEET, and eliminate sources of standing water in the backyards or other areas where they might hold a cookout.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture regularly conducts surveillance for mosquitoes, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, to determine if they are present and in certain cases, if they are carrying diseases like Zika or West Nile Virus. Those efforts will be enhanced in light of Zika.

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

Meanwhile, authorities are working 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.

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 Wednesday.