Mosquito-borne Diseases

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. 

For Marylanders, a person is most often infected with malaria when traveling overseas. The risk for locally acquired malaria remains low, however Marylanders can take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. 

Symptoms usually appear 7 to 30 days after an infective bite. If there is any suspicion of malaria (for example, if you have symptoms and/or have recently traveled in a country where malaria transmission occurs) contact your doctor for a test right away. 

Malaria can be a dangerous and life-threatening disease if it is not treated, but early treatment reduces the chance of complications. 

Resources:

• CDC Malaria
• CDC Malaria Disease Basics
• MDH Malaria Media Notice

The most common symptoms of Malaria are: 

• chills 

• fever 

• headache 

• muscle aches 

• tiredness 

• nausea 

• vomiting 

• diarrhea 

Signs of severe Malaria are: 

• jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells 

• anemia – diagnosed by a doctor 

If you believe you have been infected with Malaria, contact a medical provider immediately 

In the United States: 

You and your family can most effectively prevent malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases by taking these important measures: 

• Keeping mosquitoes from biting you using insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.

• Wearing long-sleeved clothing if out of doors at night, especially at night.

• Sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets.

• Empty standing water regularly to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

• Talk to your doctor 4–6 weeks before traveling if planning travel to a location where Malaria is endemic.

Before travel to other countries: 

CDC has a list of all the places in the world where malaria transmission occurs and the malaria drugs that are recommended for prevention in each place. Please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/country_table/a.html 

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that causes disease in humans, horses, and birds. WNV spreads to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, and it can make people sick and even cause death. WNV is common in the United States, especially in California. 

In Maryland, West Nile Virus first appeared in 1999 in a crow in Baltimore City. The first human West Nile cases were reported in 2001 and since that time WNV activity has been found in humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and/or other mammals throughout all jurisdictions.

West Nile Virus (MDH)

Most people do not develop symptoms. 

Some people develop a fever (febrile illness) with other symptoms such as: 

• Headache 

• Body ache 

• Joint pains 

• Vomiting 

• Diarrhea 

• Rash  

Some people develop serious symptoms such as: 

• High fever 

• Headache 

• Neck stiffness 

• Stupor 

• Disorientation 

• Coma 

• Tremors 

• Convulsions 

• Muscle weakness 

• Vision loss 

• Numbness 

• Paralysis 

If you believe you have been infected with West Nile Virus, contact a medical provider immediately. 

• There is no vaccine for West Nile virus.

• Keeping mosquitoes from biting you using insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.

• Wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing and treat with 0.5% permethrin.

• Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.

Resources: 

• MDH Media Notice
• West Nile CDC

There have been reports of limited, local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus in certain areas of the United States; however, no local mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus has been identified in Maryland at this time.  The species of Aedes mosquito responsible for most Zika virus transmission, Ae des aegypti, is not commonly found in Maryland.

Zika virus (CDC)

Zika virus (MDH)

• Fever 

• Rash 

• Headache 

• Joint pain 

• Red eyes 

• Muscle pain 

Severe Symptoms: 

• Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), an uncommon sickness of the nervous system, is strongly associated with Zika; however, only a small proportion of people with recent Zika virus infection get GBS.

If you believe you have been infected with Zika, especially if pregnancy or trying to conceive, contact a medical provider immediately 

You and your family can most effectively prevent Zika by taking these important measures: 

• Keeping mosquitoes from biting you using insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.

• Wearing long-sleeved clothing if out of doors at night, especially at night.

• Sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets 

• Empty standing water regularly to prevent mosquitoes from laying egg 

• Talk to your doctor if planning travel to a location where Zika is endemic.

• All pregnant women can protect themselves by avoiding travel to an area with risk of Zika.

Zika can generally be found in blood during approximately the first week of infection and can be passed to another person through mosquito bites 

• The use of condoms from start to finish, every time during sex can reduce the chance of getting Zika.

• Pregnant couples with a partner who traveled to or lives in an area with risk of Zika should use condoms every time they have sex or not have sex during the pregnancy. 

• Women should wait at least 2 months after travel (or 2 months after symptoms started if they get sick) before trying to get pregnant.

• Men who have traveled to areas with risk of Zika should wait at least 3 months after travel (or 3 months after symptoms started if they get sick) before trying to conceive with their partner. The waiting period is longer for men because Zika stays in semen longer than in other body fluids. 

If you are caring for a person with Zika, take steps to protect yourself from exposure to the person’s blood, urine, stool, or vomit:

• Do not touch blood, body fluids, or surfaces with these fluids on them with exposed skin. 

• Wash hands with soap and water immediately after providing care. 

• Immediately remove and wash clothes if they get blood or body fluids on them. Use laundry detergent and water temperature specified on the garment label. Using bleach is not necessary. 

• Clean the sick person’s environment daily using household cleaners according to label instructions. 

• Immediately clean surfaces that have blood or other body fluids on them using household cleaners and disinfectants according to label instructions. 

• Helping the person sit up or walk should not expose you. Make sure to wash your hands before and after touching the person. 

CDC has a list of all the places in the world where Zika transmission occurs. 

Resources: 

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html 

MDH: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/pages/zika.aspx 

Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. 

Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates. 

The most common symptoms for Dengue are  

• High fever 

• Headache 

• Body aches 

• Nausea  

• Rash 

Most people with Dengue will get better in 1–2 weeks. In severe cases, dengue can be fatal. 

You can lower your risk of dengue by avoiding mosquito bites, especially during the day. 

Doctors and laboratories that find positive results will notify the health department. 

If you believe you have been infected with Dengue, contact a medical provider immediately.

You and your family can most effectively prevent Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases by taking these important measures: 

• Keeping mosquitoes from biting you using insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.

• Wearing long-sleeved clothing if out of doors at night, especially at night.

• Sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets.

• Empty standing water regularly to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

• During the first week of infection, dengue virus is found in the blood of an infected person. If a mosquito bites the infected person, the mosquito becomes infected. The infected mosquito can spread the virus to other people through bites. 

• Not everyone infected with dengue gets sick.Even if you do not feel sick, travelers returning to the United States from an area with risk of dengue should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for 3 weeks, so they do not spread dengue to mosquitoes that could spread the virus to other people. 

Resources: 

• CDC Dengue