The last West Nile Virus detected case was in August, but experts say we should still be cautious.
“The best way to avoid West Nile virus, is to avoid mosquito bites altogether. To do so, residents should wear long sleeved shirts and pants when possible, use bug spray and take steps to control mosquitos on their property by removing standing water,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Health Department. “The Mosquito Control Commission have also completed additional spraying, treating, trapping, and mosquito testing in the area.”
Symptoms of WNV include, but are not limited to fever, headache, altered mental status, and other neurologic dysfunctions. WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States, though 4 out of 5 people who are infected do not feel symptoms. Only 1 in 50 people who are infected will develop a serious illness. To date, there have been 15 human cases of WNV in New Jersey for 2024.
The best way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is to use insect repellent. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- DEET
- Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
During the summer and fall months, the Camden County Mosquito Commission schedules spraying on an as-needed basis, based upon the results of their surveillance efforts and input from the public. The simple act of removing standing water from your property can help reduce the pest population in your neighborhood and assist the efforts of the commission.
For more information about West Nile Virus, please visit the CDC’s information page at https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/.
For more information, or to report a problem, contact the Camden County Mosquito Commission at (856) 566-2945 or skeeters@camdencounty.com.
