Washington (H24N). Officials from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene say two dead crows have tested positive for the West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne virus that can be deadly in humans. It’s the first time this year the virus has shown up in the state. One crow was found in the Baltimore County town of Relay, the other in Columbia in Howard County. The discoveries have prompted state officials to launch an emergency mosquito spray strike Friday night in areas where the birds were found. Officials are also asking residents to help reduce the risk of mosquito infestation by eliminating standing pools of water in flower pots, wading pools, old tires or clogged rain gutters. They say mosquitoes need no more than a half-inch of water to breed. "We will continue to work with other state agencies, as well as local and federal officials, to monitor the situation carefully to ensure the public’s health and safety," said Georges C. Benjamin, Maryland’s health secretary. "Since this is the migratory season for birds, we are asking the public to enhance their surveillance for dying and dead birds of any species." This is the virus’ second appearance in Maryland; last year a single dead bird tested positive in October. In 1999 62 people, most of them from the New York area, fell ill from the virus, which is spread to humans by mosquitoes that have bitten infected birds. Seven of those cases were fatal. This year there have been 11 human cases, all them in the New York area, but none of them fatal.

About one in 300 people becomes seriously ill from exposure to West Nile. Symptoms include fever, severe headaches, eye pain, drowsiness, muscle weakness or enlargement of the lymph nodes. The virus can lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, and can also cause encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain itself. The elderly, children, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

Maryland is the sixth state this year to detect West Nile; besides New York, the virus has also been detected in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are recommending residents in the affected states take proper precautions, such as repairing window screens to keep mosquitoes out and wearing insect repellent when outdoors.

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