State Officials: West Nile Virus Season in High Swing

TRENTON — With the full heat of summer bearing down on Cape May County, state health officials remind residents to be vigilant in preventing mosquito-transmitted diseases, including West Nile Virus.
“Heat and humidity create a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes in New Jersey,” state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Commissioner Fred Jacobs said in a July 24 release.
“Even though we haven’t had a human case of West Nile Virus in our state this year, we are entering into the peak season for mosquito bites, which runs from mid-July through September.”
Mosquitoes develop in standing water so experts suggest residents avoid it or remove items on their property where water can collect. They should also repair door and window screens, apply insect repellant and wear clothing that covers while outdoors.
West Nile Virus is a form of encephalitis that is a potentially serious disease humans get through mosquitoes that have fed on an infected bird. It is not transmitted directly from birds to humans.
Symptoms include headache, fever, neck stiffness, stupor, coma, temors, convulsions, weakness and paralysis. It can be fatal.
People typically develop symptoms between three and 14 days after bitten by an infected mosquito.
According to the DHSS, there have been 89 human cases of the virus in New Jersey since 1999, when it first appeared in the United States. Five cases resulted in fatalities.
As of July 31, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported there have been 185 human cases of the virus and five deaths throughout the United States this year.
CDC figures confirm that the worst year for the virus was 2003, when 9,862 people in the country contracted the disease and 264 died. This state saw 34 human cases and three deaths that year.
The county Health Department said the first confirmed case of West Nile in Cape May County was in a horse in 2000. Since then there have been three human cases, one in 2002 and two in 2003.
Reduced numbers of West Nile occurrences can be attributed in part to the efforts of state and county programs that monitor the virus, control mosquitoes and educate the public on how to prevent contracting the disease.
The county has its own Department of Mosquito Control, formerly the county Mosquito Commission, which has an integrated pest management program consisting of surveillance, water management and biological and chemical control.
Between mid-April and mid-August of each year, the county Health Department asks residents and visitors to participate in West Nile Virus surveillance by reporting sightings of dead crows and blue jays. Dead bird sightings can be reported to the department by calling 609-465-1209.
The state has tested 70 birds this season with the first one found positive for the virus on June 19.
State and county health departments also test mosquito pools for the virus.
Another mosquito-borne virus was recently found in this county. The CDC confirmed a laboratory finding of La Crosse encephalitis virus in a Cape May mosquito trap on July 14.
According to DHSS, La Crosse is a rare disease that usually affects children. Symptoms are similar to West Nile Virus and are usually mild, but severe disease can cause seizures and coma.
County Health Inspector Denise Versage addressed the La Crosse findings at the July 16 Middle Township Board of Health meeting. She warned attendees to take precautions for this and other insect related diseases.
For more information on West Nile Virus visit the DHSS Web site at www.nj.gov/health/ or the county’s at www.co.cape-may.nj.us and navigate to the Health Department’s page.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com