Two New Jersey residents have been infected with the West Nile virus this month – the first two cases of mosquito-borne disease this year, health officials said Friday.
The first reported case was a man from Essex County in the early forties and the second, most recent case involved a man from Monmouth County in the 1970s, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
“While West Nile virus activity in mosquitoes has been much lower than what we have seen in previous seasons, residents need to be careful to avoid mosquito bites as most human cases of West Nile virus occur in early September,” Judith Persicili said in a statement.
The virus is spread by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds, officials said.
Last year, there were eight human cases of West Nile virus in New Jersey, but in 2018, 61 people became infected through it.
The state has the highest number of reported cases so far, according to the state health report. The disease killed three people in Bergen County, the highest number of reported cases that year.
Many people infected with the virus do not get sick and develop symptoms, but when they do this, they can include serious symptoms such as flu-like illnesses or brain swelling that can lead to coma, shock and death, the department said. People over the age of 50 and people with weakened immune systems have an increased risk of developing serious illness.
There is no specific treatment for the disease and the best way to prevent it is to avoid mosquito bites, officials said.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. “By taking simple steps to control the mosquito population, we can contribute to the protection of the health of all people,” Mabe Kabe said in a statement.
“The most important step for a homeowner is to remove standing water on their property, reduce mosquito breeding and areas where growth can occur. Checking flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers and other places that contain water can significantly reduce the risk of mosquito bites and the diseases they carry. “
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Chris Sheldon can reach [email protected].
