zika virus

• Health

40 adenovirus cases confirmed at University of Maryland

At least 40 cases of adenovirus have been confirmed at the University of Maryland, College Park. One person was still hospitalized as of Tuesday.

By Sarah Meehan

Dec 21, 2018

• Opinion

There is no wall against infectious diseases

If lawmakers in Washington truly seek to strengthen America against all threats foreign or domestic, they must reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. Isolationism is not an option with infectious diseases, and PAHPRA keeps the United States engaged and vigilant.

• Weather

Dealing with more bug bites than usual? Mosquitos are at 3 times their normal number in Maryland this summer.

Frequent rain and flooding in May and June have helped mosquito populations multiply across Maryland — to three times their normal early summer numbers. The state has increased spraying to limit the public health threat and nuisance.

By Scott Dance

Jul 5, 2018

• Maryland

Ticks, Lyme disease and Zika can be fought with simple precautions

Moquitos bring Zika and West Nile, ticks Lyme disease and meat allergies. But simple actions defend against them all.

• Health

Maryland officials begin efforts to combat mosquitoes

Maryland officials say they've begun their efforts to combat mosquitoes for the summer.

• Opinion

Roughly Speaking podcast: How concerned should Americans be about Zika? (episode 247)

Dr. John Cmar, an infectious disease specialist at Sinai Hospital, provides perspective on Zika and other diseases spread by bugs, mosquitoes and ticks.

By Dan Rodricks

May 8, 2017

• Opinion

Treat the 'opioid epidemic' like an epidemic, with real-time surveillance

While we have detailed quarterly reports on opioid deaths from Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, these are simply not timely enough to prevent more deaths from occurring. It is clear that we need real-time information on this crisis if we want to stop it. This is not a new idea, but rather the core of "active surveillance, " an effective, time-tested method of controlling epidemics. It played a major role in our country's quick response to the arrival of the Zika virus. But we

• Health

Zika remains a threat, with 6 cases logged in Maryland this year

There have been five travel-related cases of the virus so far this year in Maryland, and other states continue to report cases, including Florida where someone acquired the virus directly from a mosquito bite

By Meredith Cohn

Mar 27, 2017

• Features

Zika’s prevalence could bring awareness to lesser-known CMV virus

Many pregnant women may not have heard of cytomegalovirus, or CMV, a common virus that can lead to hearing loss and mental retardation or even death of their babies, but thanks to the widespread attention given to the similarly devastating virus Zika word may be spreading

By Meredith Cohn

Jan 4, 2017

• Health

Maryland researchers identify proteins in Zika linked to birth defects

Scientists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine have identified seven proteins within the deadly Zika virus that could be to blame for the birth defects linked to the pathogen.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Jan 2, 2017

• Health

Maryland gets emergency preparedness money diverted for Zika

Maryland gets emergency preparedness money diverted for Zika

By Meredith Cohn

Oct 20, 2016

• Health

Hopkins researchers find further link between Zika, neurological problems in adults

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers working with scientists in Colombia have discovered what they believe is the strongest evidence yet that the Zika virus causes neurological problems in adults. Much of the medical concern about the mosquito-borne Zika has been directed at pregnant women because the virus can cause microcephaly – brain damage and a abnormally small head – in babies. The new research shows the health fallout from the disease may be more widespread than once thought.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Oct 5, 2016

• Health

Zika money from Congress to head to states in coming months

The $1.1 billion allocated by Congress last week to target Zika will mean more money for states and localities to control and monitor for the mosquito-borne virus and for researchers to development of vaccines and diagnostic tests

By Meredith Cohn

Oct 3, 2016

• News

Viruses, bacteria, humans all pose bigger threats than amoebas in Maryland

The headline grabbing infections aren't the biggest hazards to people in the state

By Meredith Cohn

Sep 17, 2016

• Health

University of Maryland begins testing Zika vaccine

University of Maryland researcher begin injecting a vaccine made from the DNA of the Zika virus to test for safety and effectiveness

By Meredith Cohn

Sep 14, 2016

• Maryland

Simple encounters with the environment led to death for two men

Harford County has been free – so far – this summer from major health crises based on environmental factors, but the case of two men who died in July in separate incidents, tragedies can be the result of simple, everyday encounters with creatures or the elements.

By David Anderson

Sep 14, 2016

• Opinion

University of Maryland to test Zika vaccine in humans

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine will begin testing a Zika vaccine in humans before the end of the year as part of an aggressive effort to curtail the virus blamed for a devastating birth defect

By Meredith Cohn

Aug 4, 2016

• Maryland

State, Harford health officials stress prevention as key to stopping Zika virus

With more than 800 cases of the Zika virus diagnosed in the U.S. -- 26 of them in Maryland -- Harford County and state health officials want residents to have as much information possible about the mosquito-borne disease and how to prevent it.

By David Anderson

Jun 28, 2016

• Business

Emergent BioSolutions lands $22 million order to make Zika vaccine candidate

Zika vaccine developed by Emergent headed for clinical trials.

By Sarah Gantz

Jun 27, 2016

• Opinion

Clean up Mays Chapel pond

Mays Chapel Elementary is facing mosquito (and Zika) threat because of neglected stormwater pond

• Opinion

Ticks and Lyme disease

Ticks and Lyme disease

• Laurel Leader

Department of Agriculture to begin mosquito spraying in Laurel June 5

As officials monitor mosquito levels throughout the state, the Maryland Department of Agriculture announced sprayings to begin Sunday, June 5 in Laurel after high mosquito counts were found around Calendon Court off Van Dusen Road.

By Andrew Michaels

Jun 3, 2016

• Opinion

Feds are scaring visitors away from Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico tourism threatened by CDC's Zika fear-mongering

• Laurel Leader

Laurel officials tackle mosquito spraying, threats of Zika virus

Summer weather may bring warmth, but mosquito sprayings have become routine in Laurel as city officials ask residents to prevent mosquito breeding grounds and take precautions against the mosquito-borne Zika virus reported throughout the country.

By Andrew Michaels

May 25, 2016

• Howard County

Preventive measures urged against Zika virus

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 presentative measures to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds in communities.

By Andrew Michaels

May 25, 2016

• Maryland

Heroin crisis 'a public health issue,' health officer says

Harford County Health Officer Susan Kelly updated the County Council on the Zika virus Tuesday and discussed the heroin crisis as a public health issue.

• Baltimore County

Baltimore County officials taking steps to raise Zika awareness

Baltimore County officials are taking steps to raise awareness about the Zika virus, a disease that has caused birth defects in infants in South America since an outbreak began on that continent last year.

By Rachael Pacella

May 10, 2016

• Health

Maryland cases of Zika infection now at 12

A top state health official said Friday that 12 cases of Zika virus have been identified in Maryland.

• Health

Baltimore City launches Zika preparedness plan focused on prevention

Baltimore City launches Zika preparedness plan

By Meredith Cohn

Apr 26, 2016

• Maryland

Zika Awareness Week: It's not spreading here. Let's keep it that way.

Monday marks the beginning of Zika Awareness Week as proclaimed by Gov. Larry Hogan, and state and local health officials are reaching out to inform the public about the risks of Zika , as well as simple actions to mitigate those risks.

• Opinion

Zika highlights need for research on pregnant women

The rapid spread of the Zika virus — and its now clear association with microcephaly in babies exposed prenatally — has put extraordinary pressure on the research community to develop a vaccine as rapidly as possible. But accelerating the development of this vaccine is not only scientifically and logistically complicated, it is ethically complicated.

• Maryland

Editorial: Protect yourself against Zika

About 350 cases of Zika have been confirmed in the United States, including eight in Maryland. With those numbers expected to continue to rise, it's important that people understand what Zika is, how it can be transmitted and what they can do to protect themselves, because there currently is no vaccine to prevent the disease or drug to treat it.

• Health

State health workers to get a crash course on Zika virus

State health workers will get a crash course on the mosquito-born Zika virus Wednesday as more cases are expected to hit the United States as the weather gets

• Health

As cases and alarm grow, researchers seek ways to understand and stop Zika

With an official link established this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between Zika and birth defects, and warmer weather expected to propel the mosquito-borne virus north, the push is intensifying for a drug to prevent or treat infections

By Meredith Cohn

Apr 15, 2016

• Maryland

World health organizations must respond quickly to Zika-related microcephaly

Microcephaly has been in the news lately related to the Zika virus outbreak spreading in many South American countries, especially Brazil. It seems that there is a correlation between prenatal exposure to the Zika virus in women who then give birth to children with microcephaly.

• Howard County

Howard County health officials prepare for Zika virus

Howard County health officials are preparing for potential dangers posed by Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that prompted the World Health Organization to declare an international public health emergency last month.

By Fatimah Waseem

Mar 4, 2016

• Health

Hopkins scientists help find possible link between Zika and birth defect

Johns Hopkins neuroscientists and their partners in Florida and Atlanta have shown the Zika virus destroying or damaging cells that are the building blocks of brain development in the lab, another step toward confirming the Zika's connection to the birth defect microcephaly.

By Meredith Cohn

Mar 4, 2016

• Health

CDC reports cases of Zika among pregnant women

Three cases are now confirmed in Maryland; it's unknown if any were pregnant

By Meredith Cohn

Feb 26, 2016

• Opinion

The low-tech approach to Zika

Even though Zika virus is unlikely to be spread by mosquitoes in Maryland, its arrival here this month is a wake-up call to restore our strength in public health — something we were much better at in the last century.

• Opinion

Another nightmare germ

The appearance of Zika in Maryland represents a public health threat that could affect the entire Mid-Atlantic region

• Health

Baltimore plans for Zika virus

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced Wednesday she has formed a working group to coordinate a plan to respond to Zika virus cases once they hit Baltimore.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Feb 17, 2016

• Health

Maryland confirms first case of Zika virus

Maryland health officials announced Thursday the state's first confirmed case of Zika, a mosquito-borne virus alarming public health officials with its rapid spread throughout Latin American and the Caribbean and suspected links to birth defects.

By Meredith Cohn

Feb 11, 2016

• Opinion

Zika virus and climate

Addressing Zika virus requires reducing greenhouse gases that have enabled mosquitoes to spread

• Maryland

Editorial: Prevent spread of flu

While the headlines and world health officials are focused on the Zika virus, and the state health department warns it could soon reach Maryland, it's a good time to remind people that it's far more likely you'll contract another type of virus in the next few weeks; one that kills more than 30,000 people in the U.S. each year and can be prevented with a single shot. Carroll health officials are warning that flu season is just getting started, and often extends into March and April. So if

• Health

Health officials expect Zika virus to reach Maryland

As carriers of the Zika virus get closer to Maryland, the state health department said Friday it is keeping in close contact with federal health officials about spread of the disease and will soon begin testing people who have traveled to regions where it is prevalent.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Feb 5, 2016

• Opinion

Stopping the Zika virus

A dangerous new pathogen

• Health

Zika virus alarms public health authorities internationally

The rare tropical disease spreading rapidly in Latin American and the Caribbean that authorities suspect is linked to a devastating birth defect is raising alarms in other countries including the United States.

By Meredith Cohn

Jan 28, 2016