Maryland health officials are warning residents to avoid mosquitoes, as the U.S. deals with the worst outbreak of West Nile Virus since it was discovered in the country, reports The Baltimore Sun.

Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Prince George's counties are spraying for mosquitoes after 21 people in Maryland have reportedly contracted the disease this year, one resulting in a fatality, The Sun reports.  Howard County has not released any plans for spraying.

Nationally, nearly 2,000 people have been reportedly affected by West Nile this year and there is still one month left of peak mosquito season, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

While the details of the one death in Maryland were not released, a case of West Nile took the life of an already ailing 76-year-old woman in neighboring Delaware, according to The Sun.

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