Protect Yourself from West Nile virus
Continue to wear insect repellent when outdoors, mosquitoes
infected with West Nile virus remain active despite the cooling weather. Twelve
(12) new samples of mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus this
week. These positive mosquito samples were collected
from Allamuchy Township, Hackettstown, Hope Township, Liberty Township, and
Washington Township. The mosquitoes were
collected between 8/28/18 & 8/30/18, and sent to the NJ Public Health and Environmental
Lab in Trenton on Tuesday, 9/4/18. Results
were received Friday 9/7/18.
So far this year, a total of forty-five (45) samples of
mosquitoes have tested positive in Warren County from: Allamuchy (2), Alpha
(1), Belvidere (2), Franklin (5), Greenwich (1), Hackettstown (12), Harmony
(4), Hope (2), Liberty (2), Lopatcong
(1), Oxford (3), Phillipsburg (4), and Washington Borough (1), Washington
Township (4), and White (1). The average
number of positive mosquito samples in Warren County is between 8 and 9 per
year. Mid to late August is peak time
for humans and other mammals to acquire this virus. There are 9 confirmed human case in NJ
currently and several more are pending.
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
PROTECT
YOURSELF!!!!! 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.
GENERAL 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.
