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Tag: dead birds

  • Maryland health department confirms 1st human case of West Nile virus this year – WTOP News

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    The Maryland Department of Health said Friday that an adult living in central Maryland has tested positive for West Nile virus, which is the first confirmed human case in the state so far this year.

    The Maryland Department of Health said Friday that an adult living in central Maryland has tested positive for West Nile virus, which is the first confirmed human case in the state so far this year.

    The patient is currently recovering from the infection. The health department did not confirm which county the person is residing, citing patient confidentiality issues.

    The virus is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes that have contracted the disease through birds. In rare cases, the virus can also be spread from person to person through organ donation, blood transfusion or from a pregnant woman to a fetus.

    “We urge people to be vigilant and take steps to avoid infection, such as eliminating standing pools of water where mosquitoes can breed,” Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan said in a statement.

    In 2024, 18 Maryland residents tested positive for West Nile virus.

    Nearly 80% of those infected with the disease do not develop symptoms, but some may experience mild symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches, as well as skin rashes or swollen lymph lands. Symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

    The virus, which mainly affects the nervous system, is often more severe for those over 50 or those with previous health conditions once infected.

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    DC Health urges residents to take precautions after several birds test positive for West Nile virus

    D.C. health officials also recently came across four dead American crows that tested positive for the virus in Wards 2, 3, 5 and 7. D.C. Health recommended residents to take precautions by wearing long-sleeved clothing and wear EPA-approved mosquito repellent.

    The Maryland health department urges people who are concerned about mosquito bites to cover up exposed skin and monitor their yards and gardens for high mosquito activity, especially areas with standing water that can attract the insects.

    The department launched a campaign in May to prevent mosquito bites, including a social media tool kit to educate Marylanders on protecting themselves and their homes from mosquitoes.

    Although birds are not routinely tested for West Nile virus in Maryland, sick or injured birds can be reported to an appropriate local wildlife rehabilitator. Residents can call 877-463-6497 for a list of licensed rehabilitators or visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Zsana Hoskins

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  • DC Health urges residents to take precautions after several birds test positive for West Nile virus – WTOP News

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    Health officials in D.C. are urging residents across the city to take precaution after four birds in four different neighborhoods tested positive for West Nile virus last month.

    Health officials in D.C. are urging residents across the city to take precaution after four birds in four different neighborhoods tested positive for West Nile virus last month.

    D.C. Health said a partner agency, City Wildlife, tested four American crows and the results came back positive. The birds were found in Wards 2, 3, 5 and 7, according to Joy McFarlane Mills, program manager for the agency’s Division of Animal Services.

    The health agency tests for the virus from June until October, when the weather is warmest. Most of the testing has yielded negative results, McFarlane Mills told WTOP. Officials usually test mosquitoes, but when four dead birds were found, those were tested too.

    “It’s here, and we always need to take prevention mechanisms,” McFarlane Mills said. “Just continue to know that it’s endemic to the District of Columbia. We don’t want people to stay indoors. We want you to still do everything in the District, but just make sure you’re taking precautions. Safety is key in protecting yourself.”

    The latest positive results are the city’s first in wild birds since two American crows were found to have the virus in 2021. An average of three human cases were reported annually between 2020 and 2024, according to D.C. Health data, and there haven’t been any human cases reported so far in 2025.

    D.C. Health notified personnel and residents in the impacted areas, and McFarlane Mills said that means wearing long sleeves and long pants, and using an Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellent, particularly from dawn to dusk.

    Birds are what McFarlane Mills described as a “dead host … but the key concern is the vector of mosquitoes.”

    Mosquitoes could feed on infected birds, and spread the virus to humans through a bite on the skin. People who get infected usually report flu-like symptoms, including fever and chills.

    “West Nile virus has been here. The mosquitoes are going to be here. Just (ensure) that you are taking those prevention and protection precautions,” McFarlane Mills said.

    The virus has been in D.C. since 2002, McFarlane Mills said.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Scott Gelman

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