Reisterstown Health Concern Prompts Mosquito Spraying

REISTERSTOWN, MD — The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced that there was a public health concern over the potential for mosquito-borne diseases in Reisterstown. As a result, the area was one of four where the state was conducting spraying this week.

An ultra low-volume truck was scheduled to spray a 1-mile radius around the intersection of Glyndon Drive and Sacred Heart Lane on Monday, Sept. 17, but in the event of inclement weather, officials said spraying would be rescheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

The areas affected included Arborwood, Chartley, Crandon, Glyndon Gate, Glyndon Greens, Glyndon Mews, The Preserve, St. George’s, Suburbia, Timber Chase, Tree Top Station and Worthington Meadows, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

The truck sprays a permethrin-based solution after 7:30 p.m., and while authorities say there are minimal impacts, they advise avoiding outdoor activities during the spraying.

So far, 21 people in Maryland have come down with West Nile virus, as of Sept. 11, the latest surveillance report.

• Ten cases have been in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
• Eight were in the National Capitol region.
• Two were on the Eastern Shore.
• One was in western Maryland.

Three horses and 23 mosquito pools have also tested positive for West Nile across Maryland, according to the report, issued by state health officials.

In addition to Reisterstown, neighborhoods in Severna Park, Laurel and Rising Sun were slated to be sprayed this week.

People can do these things to prevent their risk of contracting mosquito-borne illness:

• Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats
• Reduce standing water — dump rain that has accumulated in places like garbage cans
• Install, inspect and repair window screens in homes and stables
• Use an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent
• Clean bird baths and pet bowls and remove unnecessary water containers

The Maryland Department of Health maintains a West Nile page with information about reported cases.

What Happens If You Get West Nile Virus?

While 80 percent of people infected do not have symptoms, about 20 percent of those with West Nile virus have a fever with headache, body aches, diarrhea, rash and/or swollen lymph glands within two to 14 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people recover on their own but fatigue and/or weakness may last weeks or months.

Fewer than 1 percent of people infected with West Nile virus experience more severe symptoms — such as tremors, paralysis, convulsions, neck stiffness, high fever, muscle weakness and coma — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It can be fatal, particularly for sensitive groups such as those over 60 years of age and people with compromised immune systems.

Once it is discovered that a person has West Nile virus, the Maryland Department of Agriculture will spray around a three-quarter mile radius of where an individual infected with the virus resides, and there will be routine spraying throughout the state where communities participate in mosquito spraying, officials said.

Anyone who would like more information about the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Mosquito Control Program may call 410-841-5870.

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