Concerns about West Nile prompt unscheduled mosquito spraying in Anne Arundel County

Because state officials have twice detected West Nile virus in parts of Anne Arundel County this month, the Maryland Department of Agriculture will conduct unscheduled mosquito spraying in Crofton and Severn this week.

West Nile has not been detected in any humans, according to the Department of Agriculture. The positive tests came only from mosquitoes caught in traps.

Spraying in Crofton is scheduled for Tuesday and will begin after 8 p.m. near the intersection of Riedel Road and Tilghman Drive.

The spray in Severn is scheduled for Wednesday and also will begin after 8 p.m. It will occur near the intersection of Telegraph Road, Reece Road and Donaldson Avenue.

In both areas, existing spray exemptions will be suspended because of the public health concern.

The agency uses a permethrin-based solution that’s widely seen as safe for humans and most animals. Permethrin is in many commercially available bug sprays and is used to pretreat outdoor apparel to keep ticks away.

The Department of Agriculture works with community groups to schedule routine mosquito spraying in areas where residents request it. The program has become contentious in some areas due to residents’ concerns about bees and other wildlife.

Permethrin can kill bees, but the Department of Agriculture previously said the amount used in its mosquito spray program won’t harm them. Still, the agency recommends residents avoid outdoor activity while the spraying is happening.

Some experts also recommend bringing in outdoor cats because they lack an enzyme that other animals have that allows them to break down permethrin, making it dangerous for them.

Not all mosquitoes carry disease. Officials suggest people take measures to reduce their exposure to the blood-sucking insects, however. Those include:

• Wearing long, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing
• Wearing insect repellents according to product labels
• Avoiding mosquito-infested areas during prime periods of activity (dusk to dawn)
• Installing, inspecting and repairing window and door screens in homes and stables
• Regularly cleaning birdbaths and bowls for pet food and water
• Removing or emptying water-holding containers

West Nile is a disease that can affect the nervous system. Although it has been detected in mosquitoes in Maryland, as of July 21, there had not been any reported human cases this year, though Pennsylvania and Virginia have each reported a case.

Most people that contract the virus do not experience symptoms, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Of those who do, the health department said, less than 1% will experience severe symptoms.