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TRENTON
- The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services announced
today that a 59-year old man from Allenhurst (Monmouth County),
and an 81-year old man from Asbury Park (Monmouth County) have become
the ninth and tenth New Jersey residents infected with West Nile
virus.
The
Allenhurst man developed fever, headache, muscle weakness and altered
mental status on September 20. He was admitted to Jersey Shore Medical
Center on September 24. The Asbury Park man developed fever and
altered mental status on August 25. He was admitted to Jersey Shore
Medical Center on the same day.
The
New Jersey Public Health and Environmental Laboratories conducted
testing on patient samples for both cases and reported positive
results late yesterday. Both men reported a history of mosquito
bites, and neither man has a history of recent blood transfusions
or organ transplants.
The
Allenhurst man was released from the hospital and is recovering
at home. The Asbury Park man was released from the hospital and
is recovering at a rehabilitation center.
"The
number of patients diagnosed with West Nile virus in New Jersey
this year is similar to the numbers reported in recent years, six
cases in 2000 and 12 in 2001," said New Jersey Department of
Health and Senior Services Commissioner Dr. Clifton R. Lacy, M.D.
"County-based mosquito control efforts and residents' use of
appropriate protective measures to reduce the risk of mosquito bites
have resulted in fewer West Nile virus-related illness than other
parts of the country and no West Nile virus-related deaths.''
Residents
are advised to continue to protect themselves from infection until
the weather changes and frost appears.
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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