West Nile returns to North Jersey, with new concern
JULY 28, 2014, 7:19 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2014, 12:38 AM
BY LINDY WASHBURN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus have begun breeding in puddles and standing water around North Jersey, but state health officials say they also are concerned about the arrival of another mosquito-borne illness this year from travelers who have visited the Caribbean.
Mosquito pools in Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and eight other counties already have tested positive for West Nile, which last year killed two people and sickened 10 others in New Jersey, according to the state Health Department.
No human cases have been reported in the state yet, said Donna Leusner, a department spokeswoman. But the peak season for West Nile starts Friday and runs through October.
“Residents should be careful to protect themselves,” said Dr. Arturo Brito, a deputy state health commissioner. He advised using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoors, repairing holes in screens for windows and doors, and eliminating areas of standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
Now, West Nile has been joined by a second emerging mosquito-borne threat called chikungunya, which first arrived in the Caribbean only last year.
Chikungunya — a word from an African language that refers to the bent-over posture brought on by
the joint pain it causes — can result in symptoms that last for months.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/west-nile-returns-to-north-jersey-with-new-concern-1.1058652#sthash.sDuLy0Wx.dpuf