First West Nile virus case reported in NJ

New Jersey’s first case of West Nile virus this year has been found in a Winslow Township resident, local officials said.

The case was reported July 17, the Camden County Health Department said.

No cases have been detected in humans in the Big Apple so far, but as of Friday, the city’s Health Department detected the virus in 181 mosquito pools across the city, the vast majority on Staten Island.

“The human West Nile virus cases detected in New Jersey signals that we may soon be seeing [West Nile virus] activity in New York City due to the geographic proximity,” said Jean Lim, a microbiologist at Mount Sinai’s medical school.

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., with cases occurring during the summer and fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Only one in five people infected with the virus develop any symptoms, while one in 150 develop severe illness. Symptoms include fever, headache, altered mental status, and other neurologic dysfunctions.

Last year, New Jersey reported 20 human West Nile Virus cases, four of which proved fatal. New York City recorded 36 cases, two fatal, as well as 10 cases of West Nile fever, according to the city Health Department.