As the mosquito-borne Zika virus catches the attention of the country, state and local officials are issuing precautions against the virus alongside the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while also sharing preventative measures to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds in communities.
Health officials said the virus has become a growing concern, particularly its effects on pregnant women, where those infected are giving birth to babies with microcephaly, a disorder that stunts the growth of their brains and heads.
So far, there have been 544 confirmed U.S. cases of Zika, 17 of them in Maryland. Pregnant women, who are more likely to seek testing, accounted for 157 of the cases including one from Maryland. This represents a sharp increase in cases reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reflecting a change in how cases are counted.
All the U.S. cases were determined to be travel-related. Ten cases nationally were sexually transmitted from people who had traveled to Zika hotspots. Symptoms of the virus include a rash, muscle aches and pink eye or conjunctivitis.
During a panel on May 23 at Johns Hopkins Hospital, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, was joined by nearly three dozen experts to learn more about threats from the virus, as Congress debates an Obama Administration request for $1.9 billion in emergency funding for domestic and international response to the mosquito-borne virus already causing grave harm largely in Central and South America.
In late April, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared Zika Awareness Week, coordinating educational events with local health departments and state-funded kits for pregnant women that include information, repellent and condoms to protect women from sexual transmission.
About 10,000 kits will be distributed around Maryland at a cost of $130,000, according to the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
In Howard County, Department of Health spokeswoman Lisa de Hernandez said the department received 450 kits that were shared with obstetricians and gynecologists and the Women, Infants and Children Food Vouches Program.
"We want everyone, specifically pregnant women and women of childbearing age who want to become pregnant, to use EPA-registered insect repellent every day," Hernandez said. "Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants that protect you from mosquito bites. If you're pregnant, use condoms every time and even if you're not pregnant."
Pregnant women are also encouraged to reach out to their doctors for more information, Hernandez said, as not everyone knows if they've contracted the virus.
"This virus is evolving and changing all the time, so the information is changing all the time," she said. "What we're hearing today may change tomorrow or next week. [Birth defects] can be severe and that's such a huge impact on a family. The emotional and financial impacts on families are life changing."
Laurel resident Monique Rainford, a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist, said travelers, especially pregnant women, should research their destination and learn of Zika-infected areas on the CDC's website.
"If they happen to be in an area [with Zika], they should protect themselves with mosquito repellent containing DEET and it has to be EPA-approved," Rainford said. "That is safe for pregnant women. It's definitely becoming more common and I think it's frightening for any pregnant woman. I think that we, as obstetricians, are mindful of their concerns and we want to support them."
To prevent or avoid mosquito breeding, health officials ask residents to remove or dump anything that holds standing water, including potted plants, bird baths, old tires, gutters and children's toys, where mosquitoes breed in the small amount of water that's collected. Residents should also sweep other areas, like grass and bushes, where mosquitoes tend to hide.
"That's the kind of water that mosquitoes like to breed in; not the standing pool your neighbor has of 750 gallons. We're talking about little tiny bits of water," Hernandez said. "These mosquitoes can lay eggs and the eggs can dry out and live for up to eight months. Once they're re-hydrated, they can come back and hatch."
Other repellents are available at local stores, including tablet-sized Mosquito Dunks that are only toxic to mosquito larvae. Lasting for 30 days, Hernandez said the repellent treats 100 square feet of surface water and is non-toxic to other wildlife.
It's also crucial that parents inform their children as the issue continues, Hernandez added.
"I think children are hearing a lot about this and I think it's kind of scary," she said. "If parents are able to talk to their children in a way that's less scary and make it less overwhelming — the kids are screeching into the house every time they see something that might or might not be a mosquito — that helps veer both parents and kids."
Additional information, including a Sesame Street public service announcement for children, is available at .howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Health/Zika.
Baltimore Sun reporter Meredith Cohn contributed to this story.