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TRENTON -The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
announced today that two additional New Jersey residents have been
infected with West Nile virus, bringing the total number of cases
this season to six.
A
65-year old Moorestown (Burlington County) woman and a 79-year-old
Wildwood Crest (Cape May County) woman have tested positive for
West Nile virus. Both women were hospitalized earlier this month
and have been released and are recovering at home.
The
Moorestown woman developed fever, altered mental status, muscle
weakness and seizures on September 9. She was admitted to Virtua
Memorial Hospital on September 13 and released on September 18.
The Wildwood Crest woman was admitted to Burdette Tomlin Medical
Center on September 3 after developing fever, headache and altered
mental status and was released on September 8.
The
patients do not have a history of recent blood transfusions or organ
transplants. The Wildwood Crest woman spent time in Michigan in
late August, during her potential West Nile exposure period, and
reported receiving mosquito bites while there.
New
Jersey Health and Senior Services Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy,
M.D., reminds all New Jersey residents to continue taking appropriate
precautions to reduce risk of mosquito bites.
"Although
the season has now officially changed to fall, New Jerseyans remain
at risk for West Nile virus from mosquito bites until the weather
changes and frost appears. Until then, residents should continue
to 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,'' Dr. Lacy said. "People
should also keep window screens in good repair and eliminate standing
water where mosquitoes can breed.''
For more information on West Nile virus, visit the state's home
page at www.state.nj.us/health and click
on "West Nile virus.''
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