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TRENTON -The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
announced that a second New Jersey resident has been infected with
West Nile Virus.
A
62-year old Mercerville, Mercer County man has tested positive for
West Nile Virus. The man was admitted to Robert Wood Johnson University
Hospital at Hamilton on September 1 with headaches, fever, chills
and changes in mental status. He remains hospitalized in critical
condition.
The
state lab received samples for testing on Thursday. Those samples
tested positive today. The man had no recent travel or organ transplant
history. He works outdoors.
A
77-year-old Ewing man tested positive for the West Nile virus September
4. The Mercerville case is the 20th in New Jersey since 1999.
"This
second case of West Nile disease in humans in New Jersey this season
re-emphasizes the need for all New Jerseyans to take appropriate
precautions to avoid mosquito bites,'' said Health and Senior Services
Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. "This is especially important
because we are in peak season for West Nile infection,'' Commissioner
Lacy said.
Eddy
Bresnitz, M.D., the state epidemiologist, added, "Even though
the first two human cases this year are in Mercer County, residents
throughout the state are equally at risk for infection. The virus
has been detected in birds and mosquitoes in all but one county
in the state.''
"Residents
can protect themselves from infection by using insect repellent
according to labeled directions and wearing long-sleeved clothing,
especially at dawn, dusk and during the evening,'' Bresnitz said.
"People should also keep window screens in good repair and
eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed.''
So
far this year, 74 residents, including two in Mercer County, have
met the state's testing criteria. Of those, 32 are negative and
40 are pending test results. In Mercer County, 39 crows/birds and
two mosquito pools have tested positive for West Nile.
For
more information on West Nile, visit the state's home page at
www.state.nj.us/health and click on "West Nile virus.''
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