Baltimore City Rolls Out Plan To Fight Zika Virus

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Scarier than initially thought! The Zika virus is rapidly spreading, including right here in Maryland, where the number of cases continues to grow statewide. Now Baltimore City is rolling out a plan to help attack the disease.

Rick Ritter has more on the growing concerns.

The mosquito that has the ability to mostly spread the disease when infected can be found right in the Baltimore region. With warmer months ahead, the mayor describes this as a potential epidemic.

From mild symptoms to heartbreaking birth defects, Zika has quickly become devastating.

"Zika over the last year has spread rapidly," said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen.

"We cannot afford to ignore the potential threat," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

A threat Baltimore isn't taking any chances with. The city is the first in Maryland to implement a response to try and get in front of the virus.

"Prevention is critical," Wen said.

While there haven't been any locally transmitted cases, the state is already up to nine cases of residents who were infected while traveling.

As the city rolls out a new plan that's estimated to cost half a million dollars, their main concern is pregnant women, since the virus has officially been linked to microcephaly.

"This is not something that will go away and it's something they'll have to live with in the rest of their life," Wen said.

The city's plan includes mosquito surveillance, targeted spraying, standing water responses and Zika prevention kits for women.

"The impact on pregnant women and their babies can be devastating," Rawlings-Blake said.

With warmer weather ahead and people traveling to the Summer Olympics in Brazil, the worst threat may be yet to come.

"It makes it more urgent for places like Baltimore to be prepared," Rawlings-Blake said.

There are approximately 9,000 pregnancies a year in Baltimore. The state is only offering 950 kids. City officials stressed that $500,000 is a good starting point, but isn't enough to attack the virus. They plan on asking state and federal authorities for more funding.

Governor Larry Hogan has declared this Zika Awareness Week.