West Nile-positive mosquitos put Warren County at risk

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West Nile-positive mosquitos put Warren County at risk

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August 15, 2018

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By New Jersey Herald

On the heels of the news that officials confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in the state this year, a sudden increase in mosquitoes testing positive for the virus in Warren County has now put residents at an "increased risk" of contracting the viral infection, according to the superintendent of the Warren County Mosquito Commission.

"Given the amount of activit y we've seen, this year we have had higher positives (among tested mosquitoes) than we usually have," Jennifer Gruener said.

And with mosquito season typically lasting throughout October, any chance that it's winding down "does not look promising," Gruener said.

The commission sent out an alert on Aug. 10 to the Hackettstown Police Department, which alerted residents on Facebook that 12 new samples of mosquitoes tested positive for the West Nile virus in Warren County between July 31 and Aug. 2, bringing the total number of confirmed virus-plagued mosquitoes to 26 for this year.

That number has already exceeded the total number of West Nile-virus positive mosquitoes in 2017 in Warren County, which was only eight, according to the New Jersey Department of Health vector-borne surveillance report.

In Sussex County, the state Department of Health has reported that two mosquitoes have tested positive for the West Nile virus so far this season, just one shy of the total number reported in 2017.

Samples collected throughout Warren County included three that were positively identified in Hackettstown, two in Washington Township and Independence Township, where Gruener said one single mosquito was positively identified as the Asian tiger species.

The most common species of mosquitoes found carrying the West Nile virus are Culex, which are typically found buzzing around permanent water sources and continually lay eggs in standing water, stormwater facilities, containers filled with water or any natural habitats that stay wet, Gruener said.

While a nuisance, they tend to feed off birds and transfer the disease to them, but the Asian tiger species is an aggressive, day-biting mosquitoes, according to Gruener. They pose a real danger, Gruener said, because they not only carry the West Nile virus but are fond of feeding on humans.

They don't fly far and tend to lay their eggs in standing w ater in people's backyards, including buckets, tarps or tires, she said.

With the mosquito season vastly outpacing last year in the state -- 284 mosquitoes have tested positive throughout the state thus far this season compared with 136 total at this point last year -- Gruener said there are ways to reduce the risk of being bitten.

To avoid the breeding of these species in the backyard, or any of the other 44 species found in Warren County over the years, Gruener said it is important to take a walk around and dump tarps and empty any standing water.

While pool samples of mosquitoes are taken by the Warren County Commission two times a week about every other week, Gruener said routine traps are often put in place or placed where residents may complain of heightened activity.

While not much can be done about adult mosquitoes, other than aerial truck-mounted spraying, Gruener said there is another option that is working out well to rid the county of som e of the mosquito larvae.

The Charles O. Hayford Fish Hatchery in Hackettstown breeds mosquito-larvae eating fish, and working in collaboration with the state Department of Environmental Protection, provides its stock to residents with abandoned swimming pools.

"Residents can call us and we can stock their pools, free of charge," Gruener said.

With the threat that people are now at an increased risk of being bitten by a West Nile-carrying mosquito, Gruener said another odd disturbance has been occurring throughout the county, especially in Hackettstown: dead birds.

At a site in Hackettstown, five dead crows and a hawk were found in a cluster.

While the state no longer tests birds for the West Nile virus, a practice it stopped in 2016, Gruener said her commission still takes reports, and the areas where the birds were dead tested positive for West Nile-carrying mosquitoes.

While one case of West Nile virus in a human is confirmed in Hunterdon County, the state Department of Health has stated that two reported cases are under investigation.

Among the tips Gruener shared to reduce the risk of being bitten by a mosquito, she said the most important was to choose a repellent with picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or Deet, although Gruener said she has heard some people say Deet eventually stops working for them.

While West Nile virus is rarely fatal or even serious, with 80 percent not even developing symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five will exhibit some sort of symptoms.

The symptoms can easily be misinterpreted for the flu, Gruener said, which has easily led to many cases of West Nile virus going undocumented.

"The cases that are reported end up being serious and then future tests are taken to find out that it is actually West Nile," Gruener said.

Among the symptoms are fever, fatigue and body aches. While most peo ple recover well, Gruener said about 1 percent develop neurological issues.

For more information about the West Nile virus or to see the latest surveillance reports, visit www.NJ.gov/health.