Baltimore County Resident 1st Confirmed Md. West Nile Death This Year
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- There are West Nile worries as the virus claims its first life this year in Maryland. Baltimore County reports an elderly person died of West Nile last week.
Meghan McCorkell has more on what health officials are now doing.
That death in Baltimore County is one of more than a dozen West Nile deaths across the country.
The state's first West Nile death has been reported in Baltimore County---but who it was and where it happened are still a mystery.
"I can tell you it was an elderly adult living in Baltimore County and that the person died from West Nile virus," said Dr. Lucia Donatelli, Baltimore County Health Department.
That person died last week; the West Nile diagnosis was just confirmed Monday.
"It's usually more commonly seen in individuals 60 years of age or older because that age group individuals who get sick with West Nile are more likely to become very severely ill," said Dr. Kimberly Mitchell, Maryland Department of Health.
Last year, the state only saw six reported human cases of West Nile. So far this year, that number has skyrocketed to 29 cases.
"We have seen a bit more activity this year than last year," Mitchell said.
Seventeen mosquito pools have tested positive for the virus in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's counties. State agriculture officials have been spraying for a mile radius around those areas and around the homes where human cases are reported.
One of the areas recently targeted by Mosquito Control is along the NCR trail.
The uptick in cases has some that use the trail nervous.
"It does, because people have died from that," said one.
Others are taking precautions.
"I do. I wear long sleeves and long pants," said another.
Still, health officials say insect repellant is your best protection to avoid the sting that could get you sick.
Nationally, 493 cases of West Nile virus have been reported to the CDC this year.
In California, West Nile cases have hit a record number, with more than 100 people testing positive.
