Camco confirms second West Nile virus case

A 65-year-old man has been confirmed as Camden County’s second human case of West Nile virus this year, government officials confirmed Tuesday.

Officials say the man was admitted to a Camden County hospital Sept. 12 after experiencing typical symptoms of the mosquito-borne infection. He was then transferred to a Pennsylvania hospital for additional treatment on Sept. 20.

In July, the New Jersey Department of Health confirmed a 48-year-old Camden County man as the state's first human case of West Nile virus for 2016. Positive West Nile virus cases have also been confirmed in Middlesex, Monmouth and Passaic counties, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This year, West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquitos in all 21 counties. Most people who are infected have no symptoms, but about 20 percent develop a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the CDC. Mild or severe symptoms such as flu-like illness with fever, headache, body aches, nausea, swollen lymph glands or back, chest or stomach rashes may appear from three to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Last year, there were 26 cases of the virus in the state, including three fatalities.

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Last month, the Camden County Freeholder Board’s Mosquito Commission and Health Department announced the rollout of a new tool on the county’s website that allows residents to report hot spots for mosquito-breeding locations.

The Camden County Mosquito Commission also schedules regular mosquito spraying based on community surveillance.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is helping boost resources for local mosquito commissions, providing $500,000 in grants for mosquito control including 20,000 dunks and traps and more than 650,000 larvae eating fish.

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