Protect Yourself from West Nile Virus
A sample of mosquitoes from Liberty Township have tested positive for West Niles Virus. This collection was near the firehouse.
We encourage all residents to dump standing water from containers, including boats
This week, two more
samples of mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus from Warren
County. A sample collected on August 19,
2024, from Mountain Lake in Liberty Township consisting of 37 mixed Culex mosquitoes
tested positive for West Nile virus. The other sample collected on August 20,
2024, collected from East Baldwin Street in Hackettstown, consisting of 33 Culex
erraticus mosquitoes also tested positive for West Nile virus.
So far this year, a total of twenty-six (26) samples of
mosquitoes have tested positive in Warren County. This is more than double the
10-year average. The positive samples
were collected from: Allamuchy (1), Alpha (3), Belvidere (1), Franklin (1), Greenwich
(1), Hackettstown (3), Harmony (2), Liberty (2), Lopatcong (4), Oxford (1),
Phillipsburg (6), and Washington Township (1). This is double the average
number of WNV positive mosquito samples seen in Warren County. The Warren
County Mosquito Control Commission has submitted 302 samples of mosquitoes to
the state laboratory for testing so far this year. There are 8 confirmed human cases in NJ
currently, two of which proved fatal.
This number is expected to increase in the coming weeks as the number of
infected mosquitoes continues to increase statewide.
Treatments to reduce
adult mosquito populations are ongoing throughout the County as weather and
notifications allow. Please check the
Commission’s website www.warrencountymosquito.org daily for more information or call our
office at (908) 453-3585
Residents are urged to help reduce their risk of
contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:
- Don't
produce mosquitoes on your property. Dump or drain standing
water. Mosquitoes can't begin their life without water.
- Defend yourself
against mosquitoes using repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of
Lemon Eucalyptus.
- Avoid
being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically Dawn and Dusk.
- Report neglected swimming pools by calling 908-453-3585 or
visiting www.warrencountymosquito.org Anonymous calls
accepted. Just one neglected pool
can produce more than 1 million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
WEST NILE VIRUS INFORMATION
West Nile virus symptoms of the mild form include fever,
headache, tiredness, body aches, and swollen lymph glands. While the illness
can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for
several weeks.
Less than one percent of individuals (about 1 in 150 people) infected with West
Nile virus will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high
fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors,
convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These
symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
West Nile virus infection can be fatal.
MORE INFORMATION
WNV
activity in the county: https://warrencountymosquito.com/
Repellent
information from the Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/
Mosquito-borne
Diseases in NJ: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/mosquitoborne.shtml
