The West Nile Virus has been found in Warren County, said the superintendent of the Warren County Mosquito Commission, Christine Musa, in a press statement released today.
According to Musa:
A group of 75 Culex mosquitoes collected in Harmony and a crow collected in Washington Borough both tested positive for the virus.
The mosquitoes were collected on Tuesday, July 3, in a trap specifically designed to catch Culex mosquitoes, the type of mosquito responsible for transmitting the virus, especially from bird to bird.
The mosquitoes were sent to the state Public Health and Environmental Lab in Trenton the following Wednesday.
Mid-to-late July is a normal time for this virus to appear in the county, so these results represent an early indication of the presence of the virus in the county since virus was first documented in the United States in 1999. This early season activity is consistent with what has occurred throughout the state and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
Virus testing on birds and mosquitoes has been ongoing for collections made since April oft his year. To date, five birds from five municipalities have been tested and all were negative except this bird in Washington. Mosquitoes (including 113 groups) from every municipality in Warren County have been tested by the state lab with this one in Harmony being the only testing positive to date.
The mosquitoes were collected in the area of Reeder Road while the bird was found in the area of Washington Borough, north of Route 57 and east of Route 31.
Subsequent trapping for adult mosquitoes is ongoing to survey for mosquito species more likely to bite people. When appropriate, spraying for adult mosquitoes will take place as soon as weather conditions and required notification procedures permit.
Musa recommended the residents take the following steps to reduce their risk of contracting mosquito-born diseases:
• Don't produce mosquitoes on your property. Dump or drain standing water. Mosquitoes can't being their life without water.
• Defend yourself against mosquitoes by using repellents containing DEET, Picaridin or oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn or dusk.
• Report neglected swimming pools by calling 908-453-3585 or visiting the commission's website. Anonymous calls are accepted. One neglected pool can produce more than one million mosquitoes and affect people up to five miles away.
The virus itself in a mild form has symptoms fiver, headache, tiredness, body aches and swollen lymph glands. While the illness can be as short as a few days, some have reported being sick for several weeks.
Less than one percent of people (about 1 in 150 people) infected with the West Nile Virus will develop severe illness. The sever symptoms 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.
The collection and testing of dead birds provides an indication of the presence of the virus. Residents can assist in this surveillance effort by reporting dead birds, especially crows (large, all black birds) or blue jays to the Warren County Health Department at 908-475-7960. When appropriate, they will be submitted for West Nile Virus testing.