The moment I was made aware that the Zika Virus was a potential threat to Baltimore City, I convened a city-wide working group under the direction of my Health Commissioner, Dr. Leana Wen, to determine the recommendations for a plan to protect our residents. 

Zika virus disease (Zika) is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. While Zika is transmitted to humans primarily through mosquito bites, it may also be transmitted sexually, or from a pregnant woman to her baby. Recent studies have confirmed the link between the virus and microcephaly, a serious birth defect that can cause abnormal brain development in babies.

While the Zika Virus has had a relatively limited impact on Maryland and the United States so far, federal and international health officials are concerned about its potential to spread quickly.

At the local level we are taking proactive measures to build awareness and help you understand the best ways to protect yourself and your families.

While most people with Zika do not have any symptoms, the impact on pregnant women and their babies can be devastating and – if you have seen the pictures or read the news accounts – you know that he impacts are heartbreaking.  And given that we typically have 9,000 pregnancies a year in Baltimore City, we cannot afford to ignore the potential threat.

On Tuesday, Dr. Wen and I convened community leaders at City Hall to announce an inter-agency response to truly tackle potential risks of this disease and share Baltimore City’s Zika Preparedness Plan.

Our key focus areas are:

Awareness

Prevention

Detection

There are no currently known cases of Zika in Baltimore, but there have been 12 confirmed Zika virus infections in Maryland, with 426 total cases across the continental United States. It is likely that a traveler infected with Zika could return to Baltimore. And during mosquito season, there is the potential for local transmission in Baltimore if an individual with travel associated Zika is bitten by a mosquito and that mosquito then bites other residents.

That is why I have directed the Health Department to closely monitor these cases, in cooperation with our state and federal partners, and to develop our citywide Zika preparedness plan.

We also urge travelers who may have been exposed to the disease to use an abundance of caution and consult their doctor because it is possible to unknowingly carry the disease. Check with www.cdc.gov/zika to see where Zika is currently. Protect yourself from mosquito bites if you travel and for 3 weeks after you return.

Only one out of five people show symptoms, which include fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes) or headaches.  The effect of this disease on pregnant women and their babies is of critical concern. In Baltimore there are an average 9,000 pregnancies a year.  We cannot afford to ignore the potential threat.

For all men who have traveled to areas where Zika exists, we recommend you only have protected sex with condoms for at least 8 weeks after you return, or 6 months if you showed symptoms.

A Baltimore-based consortium of researchers is currently working to develop a vaccine for the disease, because there is no cure or anti-viral treatment available at this time.

The best prevention is to limit potential exposure, including travel to high risk destinations. In the coming weeks we will implement the following initiatives to help prevent the spread of Zika in Baltimore, including:

- Enhanced responses to calls of standing water that may come from our neighborhoods

- Zika prevention kits for 9,000 pregnant women

- New educational materials and public service announcement to build awareness

- Zika community ambassador trainings to better reach residents

- Mosquito surveillance to identify where there are high concentrations of mosquitoes

To our knowledge, Baltimore City’s Zika Preparedness Plan is the first of its kind in Maryland. We hope that it will be used as a helpful guide as other regions devise their own response, and serve as a model for other cities and states across the nation to build upon.

For more information on the Zika Virus and to access the Zika Preparedness plan, please visit:  health.baltimorecity.gov/zika-virus and www.cdc.gov/zika