Which agency assumed responsibility for Maryland mosquito control in 1973?

• A. Maryland Department of Health
• B. Maryland Department of Agriculture
• C. Maryland Department of Environment
• D. Maryland Department of Transportation

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how state responsibilities for mosquito control are organized and who took charge in a specific historical shift. In 1973 Maryland centralized mosquito control under the Maryland Department of Agriculture. This move connected vector management with the state’s pesticide regulation framework, providing a single authority to oversee mosquito-control programs, licensing of applicators, and the use of pesticides statewide. It also aligned coordination with counties and local programs that rely on standardized standards and state-level guidance.

So, the department chosen brings together control efforts with the regulation and safe use of pesticides, which is why it’s the best fit. The other agencies focus on health, environmental protection, or transportation, and were not the organization assigned to lead Maryland mosquito control in that year.