Md. health officials monitoring for mosquito-borne chikungunya virus after Fla. case reported

State begins annual monitoring for West Nile, urges precautions against winged backyard pests

State health officials are urging Marylanders to be wary of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus and, now, the dengue-like virus chikungunya — raising concerns after it was reported in a Florida man Thursday.

The chikungunya case is believed to be the first that was contracted in the U.S.; other cases had been reported in people who had recently traveled to areas where the virus is prevalent.

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