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New Jersey
With New Jersey at the height of West Nile virus (WNV) season, the state is reporting one confirmed death associated with the virus to date.
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) are urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito-borne diseases by taking steps to reduce mosquito populations on their properties.
New Jersey currently has 14 human cases of WNV (3 confirmed, 11 probable) reported in the following counties: Bergen (2), Burlington (3), Camden (2), Essex, Gloucester, Middlesex, Passaic, Somerset, Ocean and Monmouth. NJDOH and local health departments are investigating six more WNV reports.
In a typical year, eight WNV infections are reported. WNV activity in mosquitoes is also high, with many more pools of WNV positive mosquitoes identified this year compared to the five-year averages.
The death of a Camden County man in his 60s who fell ill in mid-July has been attributed to neuroinvasive WNV disease.
August and September are when most cases of WNV are reported in the state.
“It is important to remind residents to continue to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites,” said NJDOH Commissioner Judith Persichilli.
“Using insect repellant and avoiding being outdoors when mosquitoes are active are just some of the steps residents can take to protect themselves from mosquito-borne diseases. “
West Nile virus is a disease that people can contract from the bite of a mosquito that feeds on an infected bird.
WNV is not directly transmitted from birds to humans.
For many people, the virus causes asymptomatic infection or mild to moderate illness, usually accompanied by fever.
People over 50 and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing serious illness.
About one in 150 people will develop a more severe form of the disease, with symptoms such as severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
“We are currently seeing an increase in the number of mosquitoes due to the recent Ida flooding,” said Shawn M. LaTourette, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection.
“DEP works closely with each county’s mosquito control program and posts safety tips for residents on our social media channels.
New Jersey residents can help stay safe by making sure to remove any standing water in yards and cover any empty containers that may hold water for more than three days. ”
To protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases, residents should:
- Apply an EPA registered insect repellent
- Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active
- Wear long sleeves and long pants
- Crib, stroller and baby carrier cover with mosquito net
- Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes out and use air conditioning when possible
WNV surveillance, control and prevention activities in New Jersey involve the coordinated efforts of a number of federal, state and local agencies, including NJDOH, NJDEP, New Jersey Department of Agriculture , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State Mosquito Control Commission, the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology, and local health and mosquito control agencies.
NJDOH’s weekly monitoring reports are online at https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/arboviral-stats/.
The arboviral activity of NJ in mosquitoes is available at https://maps.vectorsurv.org/arbo.
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