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Hello. My name is Kim Mitchell, and I am the chief of rabies and vector-borne diseases
at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. I'm going to talk to you today about
West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus is a disease that is spread by mosquitoes and can affect
the nervous system. West Nile was originally found in Africa and has since been found in
the United States and North America since 1999. West Nile has a variety of different
symptoms that can affect anyone. Most people who are infected with West Nile Virus show
no symptoms at all and the infection will resolve itself within a matter of weeks. About
20% of infected individuals develop West Nile Fever, which is a flu-like illness that is
typically characterized by fever, headache, muscle aches, rash, and sometimes swollen
lymph glands. And again, the infection will resolve itself after a few weeks. A very small
proportion of infected individuals can develop severe disease in the form of encephalitis,
which is a swelling of the brain, or aseptic meningitis, which is a swelling of the membrane
surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Both of these are very serious diseases that can
result in hospitalization. Adults over the age of 50 are at greatest risk of getting
severe disease when they are infected with West Nile Virus, and symptoms of that can
include paralysis, tremors, coma, and even death. So West Nile Virus can be fatal, and
it is important to take steps to prevent infection. So how can you prevent West Nile? First, it
is important to dress the right way when you are outdoors. If possible, wear clothing with
long sleeves and long pants when you're outside. Also, if it's not possible to wear long sleeves
and long pants, use insect repellant containing DEET, which is a compound that has been found
to be effective at repelling mosquitoes. It's important to choose an EPA registered repellant,
as those are again considered to be the most effective. Also, try to avoid going outside
at dusk and dawn, which are the hours of the day when mosquitoes are often most active,
and very importantly as well, remember to drain any objects that contain standing water
around your property. This can be anything from bird baths to flower pots to kiddie pools
to toys and other items like that. Be sure to walk around your property and check your
home regularly for these items. Also, repair any damaged window screens as those can also
be an entry point for mosquitoes. Also, it's important to remember that West Nile Virus
is endemic in Maryland. That means that virus is present throughout the entire state, so
no matter where you live, you could get West Nile. It's important to remember that there
are a lot of different species of mosquitoes, some of which do carry West Nile. The Asian
Tiger Mosquito is a mosquito that is often seen in Maryland, but it is not the only one
that can carry West Nile Virus, so it's important to remember those prevention steps and protect
yourself from any mosquito bites. One final take-home point to remember about preventing
West Nile Virus is the 3 Ls: Long, Loose, and Light. Wear long sleeved clothing - long
sleeved shirts, and long pants, loose fitting clothes to keep mosquitoes from biting through
your clothing, and light-colored clothing as well. These things will help you avoid
mosquito bites and stay safe this summer. Thank you.