3 West Nile cases reported in Jersey

Two of them are residents of Union County

BY ROBERT E. MISSECK STAR-LEDGER STAFF Of the three people who have reportedly contracted the West Nile virus in the state this year, two live in Union County. The third lives in Bergen County, said Marilyn Riley, a spokeswoman for the state. She declined to disclose the victims' hometowns, but did say the most recent case involved a 60-year-old Union County man who fell ill on Sept. 17. A 52-year-old county man also developed symptoms on Sept. 9, she said. "Both have been released from the hospital and are recovering at home," Riley said. Bergen County health officials declined to give details about their resident who became ill on Sept. 13. However, Riley said it was a 54-year-old man. Somini M. John, an epidemiologist with the Bergen County Department of Health Services said the victim "had symptoms of chills, headache, stiff neck, malaise, occasional tingling in fingertips and a low-grade fever." She said no hospitalization was necessary and the victim is currently recovering. "This person participated in outdoor recreational activities five to 15 days prior to developing symptoms. These activities took place in New Jersey as well as out of state. Insect repellent was not used during the outdoor activities," John said. Cranford Health Officer Warren J. Hehl confirmed the 52-year-old victim is from his town and lives in the Northside. Thirty-two New Jersey residents came down with the West Nile Virus in 2003, but those numbers have tumbled downward dramatically to only three victims, according to the state Department of Health and Senior Services. Newly appointed Union Township Health Officer John Ferraioli said he believes this is the first West Nile case to occur in the township. He said in this man's case, as in each of the other two, when a victim . begins showing symptoms of West Nile, a blood sample is sent to the state Department of Health, which makes the determination of the disease, not the hospital where the patient is being treated. "Although three people are more than we would like," he said he believes a more serious outbreak has not occurred because of the preventive measures taken by county mosquito control and educational efforts by local health officers that have heightened public awareness about the problem and educated residents on what they can do to alleviate the threat. "It's here throughout the state, we know it's here," he said of West Nile infected mosquitoes and the hosts upon which they feed. "Obviously, mosquitoes are not something you are going to be able to totally eradicate, but you can take defensive measures to prevent infection, and our job as health officers is to educate the public on just what those measures are," he said. Birds are the carriers of the virus and so far this year 186 birds have been submitted for testing by the Department of Health and Senior Services Public Health and Environmental Laboratory. Of those tested, 42 birds found in 10 counties have been confirmed positive for the presence of the virus. According to the department's Web site, birds testing positive for West Nile virus have been found in Atlantic (10), Bergen (4), Cape May (5), Essex (1), Hunterdon (1), Mercer (2), Monmouth (2), Morris (4), Ocean (11), and Union (2) counties. The site also notes that 5,238 mosquito pools have been tested for the presence of the virus and 267 positive pools have been found in Atlantic (13), Bergen (95), Burlington (3), Camden (3), Cape May (2), Essex (15), Gloucester (4), Hudson (24), Hunterdon (4), Mercer (52), Middlesex (22), Monmouth (8), Morris (1), Ocean (5), Passaic (I1), Somerset (1), Union (3) and Warren (1) counties. No horses have been found to be infected with the virus. Nationwide this year, a total of 689 people have been infected and 20 have died. Nationwide, there were 9,862 who became ill with the virus and 264 deaths last year in the United States. Robert E, Misseck covers Union County. He can be reached at rmisseck@starledger.com or at (908) 302-1507.

Courtesy of The Star Ledger - October 14, 2005 Issue Hyperlinks by BPN