Officials: West Nile Virus case confirmed in Camden County

Camden County, NJ (WTXF) - Officials say a 65-year-old man has been confirmed as Camden County's second case of West Nile Virus this year.

According to officials, on Sept. 12, he was admitted to a Camden County hospital with typical symptoms and was transferred to a Pennsylvania hospital on Sept. 20.

The Camden County Mosquito Commission regularly checks several thousand suspected mosquito-breeding sites across the county. Mosquito spraying is scheduled on an as needed basis based upon the results of their surveillance efforts.

"Our county mosquito commission works with the Public Health Environmental Laboratories in Trenton to verify the presence of West Nile Virus in their samples," said Freeholder Jeffrey Nash, liaison to the Camden County Mosquito Commission. "When a pool tests positive for West Nile Virus, the mosquito Commission returns within 24 hours to spray the area."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the main route of human infection with West Nile Virus is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Individuals over the age of 50 are more likely to develop serious symptoms of West Nile Virus, and should take special care to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Residents should check their property for any object that holds water for more than a few days. All pre-adult mosquito stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) must be in stagnant water in order to develop into adult mosquitoes.

For more information, or to report a problem, contact the Camden County Mosquito Commission at (856) 566-2945 or skeeters@camdencounty.com.