The first cases of West Nile virus of the season have been diagnosed in two Marylanders, a Baltimore County adult and a Montgomery County senior, according to the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Health officials say the virus has become a seasonal problem — one case was confirmed last year. And while they say the risk is low, they urged people to take precautions such as avoiding areas of high mosquito infestation, especially at dawn and dusk, covering arms and legs when outdoors, using repellants and draining pools of water.
Symptoms, which usually appear three to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, include fever, headache, rash and swollen lymph glands. Rarely, the virus can be fatal.
Almost 1,200 collections of mosquitos have been tested for the virus this year, but only one in Anne Arundel has tested positive.
meredith.cohn@baltsun.com