Because mosquitos in Baltimore County were found carrying West Nile virus, the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Baltimore County Health Department will conduct previously unplanned mosquito control activity.

A department of agriculture spokesperson said mosquitos caught in a trap in Parkville, near the intersection of Harford Road and Edgewood Avenue, were carrying West Nile. When there are multiple positives in a single trap, officials do extra mosquito spraying. The spokesperson said sprays were requested out of an abundance of caution due to confirmed human cases in the Baltimore metro area.

After 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, crews will use an ultra-low volume truck-based spraying tool to target mosquitos in Parkville. They will use a permethrin-based solution that’s been EPA-approved for public health use without “unreasonable risks to human health,” according to state officials.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture does suggest, however, avoiding outdoor activities during the spray. A Maryland Department of Health spokesperson said there are three positive human cases of West Nile in Maryland, all in the Baltimore metro region.

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The first confirmed case in Maryland this year was reported on Aug. 26.

The patient, an adult from the Baltimore area, has recovered, according to MDH. Up to 80% of people who are infected with West Nile will not develop symptoms, MDH said, but those with underlying medical conditions could become seriously ill.

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Parts of Anne Arundel County have recently seen additional mosquito spraying, too. The number of people infected with the disease fluctuates each season. In 2023, Seven Marylanders were confirmed to have been infected with West Nile, according to MDH.

There have been fewer than 10 cases of West Nile reported in Maryland since 2019, according to data from the health department.

To avoid West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses, the state officials recommend the following:

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  • Staying indoors at dawn or early in the evening
  • Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors
  • Ensuring all window screens in homes or businesses are intact
  • Spraying clothing with insect repellent that contains permethrin or DEET