It seems a little ridiculous that the State won't release the County that the victim lived in.

Agreed!

YOUR WRIGHT. IT PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE PANIC FACTOR

I don't believe in West Nile Virus.

Yeah that part would be nice!

I agree with K Blue. It would be helpful to know where the death occurred and whether the individual had compromised immunity or weakened health before contracting he virus. By not releasing additional information, the Maryland Department of Health is going to put everyone into a state of panic. I can see withholding the individual's name and other personal identifiers but I simply cannot understand withholding the name of the county.

If people know where the desease is occuring, they can take precautions against it, so the health officials are foolish not to at least tell us that much.

Precisely.

One person dead. Precautions? Panic?

They probably ate a bad liverwurst sandwich! LOL!

....and people wonder why I don't like to go outside. I'm safe in here with my computer.

Another fine example of your tax dollars at work or is it waste. I for one would like to know if a deadly disease is in my neighborhood or not. What's next, not reporting where homicides occur due to "privacy issues?

I haven't heard spraying in millers island once this year! It's time!!!

Troll? LOL!

At least I'm not afraid to take a walk in the woods.

You people and your fear are pathetic.

Everyone ought to be taking precautions anyway. I agree, it would be nice to know where this happened, but West Nile is all over the place. Use bug spray, wear long sleeved shirts and pants, and try not to get bitten, especially if you have a weaked immune system, are old or very young.

What a shame! I cannot find an online map of areas to be sprayed for mosquitoes.....and why the shroud of secrecy as to where this unfortunate person lived? I beleive the public has a right to know......Leslie Hunt wrote an article for the patch, which was featured on 6/29 about stagnant water along Leelyn Dr in Severna Park. This is part of the Cypress Creek Stormwater Management project. Water NEVER drains in one area. As a result, the number of mosquitoes in my yard (close proximity) as well as that of my neighbors (Westridge Community) have rendered my yard, porch, patio as non-useable. I have called the Dept of Agriculture-mosquito control (they never called back despite a promise they would), Dept of Health (claim it's not their responsibility because it's county property)....Dept of Health passed it off to Inspection & Permits-Stormwater Management & Sediment Control. Yep!....everybody looks at it, realizes that there is a problem, but does nothing to correct the situation. The problem is that nobody wants to take responsibility. I already have multiple sclerosis, so the prospect of possibly contracting another neurological virus is a big concern for me.

It would be nice if we at least knew what county that happened in.

I got this update just after I was bitten 3 times by a mosquito or a couple of them.

It doesn't matter where the person lived. It matters where they were bitten and since you can't really be completely sure of that then it doesn't matter anyway. Just use bug spray like always.

I think the budget cuts, cut the costs of the citys from spraying, nothing here in Dundalk that I am aware of. It a real shame that the government will not release any info about the safey of our health. Why do we even have Department of Heath if they can't release any information about our health safety. I find this too be confussing for the people here.

Sketers are bad this year in Harford County, at least in my yard they are. They bite even with repellent on. As much as I don't want it, maybe a good frozen solid winter, is what we need. Freeze those ittle buggers to death!!

Anyone been bothered by the big daylight flyers called tiger mosquitoes? they don't wait until dusk! They are big and stripped and hurt!

We're due for a nice 3 foot blizzard again. :)

We're new to this area. My kids love the snow so we hope there is a lot of it here and we can all go sledding and than have hot coco by the fireplace. Hot apple cidar is also something to look forward to. Are we really anticipating a 3 foot blizzard or is that just something I need to take the family to D.Q. for?

I don't understand how all those tiny little skeeters fly all the way over here from West Nile. You'd think they'd be too pooped to bite anybody.

Patrick,
I grew up in this area (Kensington); there was plenty of snow back then;
kept in shape. Last year we did'nt even have a trace so I am hoping for
a 3 foot blizzard, as long as I can get friends to help me dig out during my
retirement!

I wish that when the government talks about west nile virus they would go over the symptoms.....my kids have been eaten alive by mosquitos this year and my 6th grader is going to outdoor school in september and will be hiking through swamps....will drill into him about bug sprsy and sunscreen..but he is 11.....

I have quite spent some time in Idaho Montana and Wyoming. Fishermen there swear by vitamin B1 and B12 as a skeeter repellent. I was at a stream with some fly fisherman and I was getting eaten alive. CLOUDS of skeeters all around even bothering the kingfishers and other birds. The fishermen were unphased and I saw few sketters buzzing around them.

google it and see both sides but I witnessed it so I believe it may work for some at least. i never did try it out myself.

My mom was getting blood work done and she was told that she had west nile virus in the past. Apparently there is a blood test. 80% of people that get it do not show any symptoms, it does affect those with weakened immune systems more than those without. My mom has COPD and diabetes, but she had no symptoms at all when she contracted WNV and was surprised to hear she had it.

Lily and Roswell are both right! First to agree with Lily's comment, it does not matter in what county this person lived, it matters where she was when she was bitten. In all likelihood, those two places are the same, but there is still a good chance they're not.

As for Roswell, I agree 100%! Our mild winter is what has led to such a bad, and widespread, problem with mosquitos this year. If possible, get rid of any and all stagnant water near your home, and don't go near it when you're out. Dusk is prime time for getting bitten, so be sure to take precautions. And, with any luck, we will get a good freeze this winter (and yes, I hope a lot of snow too - I want my son to play in it like I did!) and then perhaps they won't be so bad next year.

Those poor innocent mosquitoes....*SOB*

Pamela...the symptoms start with...headache , fever & flu like symptoms. Hope everyone stays safe and use : OFF " DEEP WOODS " it's excellent !

Anne S., I too have ms, diagnosed years ago, and we have over active immune systems, our bodies attacking ourselves. Besides all that goes with the depressing illness, I generally do not get sick, attributing that to the ms. Just have all the ms horrid ness.

Ive had over one hundred mosquito bites this summer glad I havent gotten the virus

does anyone know if the county where the person died of the virus has been released? thanks!

The county where the person died has not been released, but there have been 12 confirmed cases in Maryland so far in 2012. The breakdown by county is:
Anne Arundel County 1
Baltimore City 1
Baltimore County 1
Cecil County 2
Dorchester County 2
Harford County 1
Montgomery County 1
Prince George's County 1
Washington County 1
Wicomico County 1

I got this data from here:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/USGS_frame.html?a_gotolink=http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/

Regarding spraying for mosquitos, I believe that the decision to spray is made at the local level. For example, I live in Riverdale Park, and our town council has to vote to request that the Mosquito Control Section of the Maryland Department of Agriculture come spray in our municipality. If you don't live in an incorporated municipality, the decision would be made at the county level.

What's next locust plage, when only have til Dec 2012 anyway, right

I spoke to the MoCo community health nurse. There was one case in MoCo. There are 2 types of West Nile - invasive and noninvasive. The noninvasive means it was probably not reported, just your garden variety of West Nile. The invasive means you are really ill and probably went to the hospital. Both stimulate antibodies; you may have antibodies developed over the past 10 years or whatever that West Nile has been around in this area (that is my fuzzy recollection).

WBAL tv is reporting a spraying of insecticide in the Milford Area? I wonder if that is Milford MD or Milford Mill area?

There are a lot of great opinions posted here. Thank you to some of the helpful and concerned people. I know this may sound like hocus pocus but I noticed one evening that mosquitos weren't around when I was lighting patchouli charcoal incense. I don't know what it is about that smell or smoke but I have continued using it and have kept them out of my garage this summer. Perhaps the patchouli oil or fragrance spray would do the same if you can stomach the odd scent? I feel happy knowing it stinks but it's not a chemical.

And thank you Sarah Wayland

Relax! Your odds of being murdered are nine hundred times GREATER than dying of the West Niles Virus. I am more afraid of the chemicals used in spraying than of the mosquitos. Keeping the surrounding area clear of wet and standing water (including keeping your gutters clean) is more effective than the spray programs.

@No Psoas Best comment on this page, People sure do overreact on this website.

On Tuesday, August 28, Brooklyn Park had an unscheduled spray and Baltimore City and County were added to the list of areas with the cases with WNV. On 9/6 and 9/13 Milford Mill will be getting an unscheduled spraying. Neither community participates in the spraying program. My community of Shore Acres in Arnold in Anne Arundel County does participate in the spraying program every year. We were given a time and a date for spraying. I just found out August 20 we were never sprayed. After a week of emails with MDA's Mike Cantwell and Speaker Mike Busch's Aide Edie Segree we got a trap test (Monday 8/27) that was unsuccessful. Cantwell said the Tues. we would have a human three bites in two minutes test. It was not until Thursday morning I found out from Segree that we had an unannounced spraying around 10:30-11:00 pm Tuesday after the bite test was successful. We didn't have a chance to close windows, stay inside or bring pets inside. Cantwell said we should have known we would be sprayed. Cape St. Claire, Bayberry and Ulmstead were sprayed according to Edie Segree. The Cape and Ulmstead still don't know they were sprayed. MDA is performing another bite test next Tuesday 9/7. If successful they will spray again. If in Shore Acres, Bayberry, Ulmstead or the Cape, stay inside, close windows and bring pets in. For info contact Md. DHMH or MDA. FYI—first MD death was prior to 8/21. http://www.mda.state.md.us/plants-pests/mosquito_control/mosquito_control_program_description.php

Can anyone suggest a good snowblower

Correction: Spraying is on Tuesday 9/4 in Shore Acres, Ulmstead, Bayberry and Cape St. Claire.

The other fact you do not know is if the person was here visiting, a tourist who got sick (who came from a state with lots of WNV like Texas) so knowing which county may be all but irrelevant. The important thing is to protect yourself as you would when you go into any mosquito potential area...wear insect repellent and examine yourself and children afterwards. I think we have mre to fear from tick bites and Lyme Disease than WNV!

I contracted WNV several years ago when I had a compromised immune system. It was unpleasant and I experienced what I would describe as a "mild" case of the flu. I know the flu isn't mild, but the symptoms were the same, just not as intense. I had body aches, fever with some chills and it lasted about 3-4 days. I did go to the doctor and had blood work to confirm that. I live in a community with next to no water source or stagnant water and the mosquitoes have been pretty horrible this year, but we just make sure to wear long pants and sleeves and limit our time outdoors. You could protect yourself 24/7 and reach outside to get the mail and get one on your hand and be done for. You just have to take reasonable proactive attempts to keep yourself covered and protected and that's about it.

Hmmm I noticed that Howard county is not listed as one of the countys that are up for spraying, Here's a little fact for you my mother passed away from Encephalitis, according to the State she had the highest levels they had seen, yet somhow this information dissapered, of course this was like 8 years ago but nothing was done.
I remember years ago they would spray the community a few times a week now they don't. Our taxes go up and the services go wanting.