West Nile virus discovered at Birch Grove Park in Northfield – Press of Atlantic Metropolis

NORTHFIELD — A mosquito pool pattern collected from Birch Grove Park examined optimistic for West Nile virus Tuesday, the Atlantic County Division of Public Well being mentioned.

Different West Nile samples this yr had been collected from Northfield, Mullica Township and Linwood, the division mentioned Friday in a information launch.

Well being officers have commissioned mosquito surveillance, implementing extra management techniques and offering informational supplies concerning the virus to space companies and residents, the division mentioned.

West Nile is carried by way of contaminated mosquitoes and infrequently transmitted to birds, animals and people.

In line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, about 4 in 5 people who find themselves contaminated with West Nile don’t develop signs. The others are likely to get fever accompanied by headache, physique aches, diarrhea, rash or vomiting. About 1 in 150 people who find themselves contaminated develop into severely in poor health and expertise circumstances that have an effect on the central nervous system, similar to encephalitis or meningitis. About 1 in 10 individuals with critical circumstances die.

Birch Grove Park is frequented by each the general public and campers, and is usually used as grounds for leisure actions, together with fishing and mountain climbing.

Officers encourage the general public to rid their grounds of standing water, put on repellent outside, clear clogged gutters and restore display doorways.

Extra details about the virus may be discovered at atlantic-county.org/public-health or by calling the division at 609-645-5971.

Those that need assistance eradicating stagnant water from their properties can name the county Workplace of Mosquito Management at 609-645-5948.