West Nile Virus Case Reported In Camden County

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — A person in Camden County tested positive for West Nile Virus, marking the county's first-known case of the mosquito-borne illness this year.

An investigation was initiated after a positive lab test was reported Monday to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services.

No information about the patient has been disclosed. Their town's population is too small for health officials to reveal without violating HIPAA privacy rules, a county spokesperson told Patch.

Only three other people in the state have tested positive for West Nile Virus this calendar year, according to the New Jersey Department of Health's latest data. The cases came from Bergen, Middlesex and Union counties.

West Nile Virus is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to the CDC. Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.

Only 1 in 5 people infected get a fever or other symptoms. One in 150 develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness, the CDC says.

Insect repellent is the best way to protect yourself from mosquitos, says the Camden County Health Department, which advised people to use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered repellants with one of the following active ingredients:

• DEET
  
• Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
• IR3535
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone

West Nile Virus typically isn't widespread in New Jersey, but it's important to watch for symptoms, says County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Health Department.

"The Camden County Department of Health will continue to work with the county Mosquito Control Commission to ensure that additional spraying, treatment of waterways and testing will be conducted in the area," Betteridge said in a statement.

In Camden County, the virus has been detected in five mosquito pools (groups of mosquitos) in 2024 — the third-lowest total of all New Jersey counties. Overall, 151 mosquito pools in the county have been tested this year.

During the summer and fall, the Camden County Mosquito Commission schedules spraying on an as-needed basis, based on surveillance efforts and public input. Removing standing water from your property can help reduce your neighborhood's pest population, officials said.

For more important, or to report an issue, contact the Camden County Mosquito Commission at 856-566-2945 or skeeters@camdencounty.com.