West Nile virus surfaces in Belle Mead
By:Laura Toto
Local health officials say there is no cause for alarm over a dead crow found in Belle Mead last week that tested positive for West Nile virus.
The crow was found Sept. 1 in the Fox Chase housing development on Hillsborough Road. The state Department of Health and Senior Services on Sept. 7 confirmed the bird had tested positive for the virus.
No other crows in Hillsborough have tested positive for the West Nile virus. The presence of the dead crow also does not mean virus has spread to the mosquitoes in the area.
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West Nile encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral disease that causes an inflammation in the brain. The West Nile virus is transmitted to people by the bite of a mosquito that carries the West Nile virus.
The mosquitoes become infected when they feed on birds. The disease cannot be transmitted directly from birds or from person to person.
The county sprayed the pesticide Scourge in the Belle Mead area are between Sept. 7-12. The county has sprayed Scourge in the area for 20 years.
Tammy Lehman, a spokesperson for the Somerset County Mosquito Commission, said, "The only reason it went public is because a bird was found and tested positive. We stepped it up because of people’s concerns."
The county usually sprays Scourge on foot to control the mosquito problems. In years with heavy rain, the county also sprays for mosquitoes with a technique called night fog, in which they spray from trucks.
"Areas that are mushy, spongy, grassy areas are going to have a lot of mosquitoes," Ms. Lehman said.
The pesticide, often sprayed throughout the state and specifically in areas with wetlands, is not toxic to children or animals because the base of the pesticide is drawn from chrysanthemums.
"Use your judgment. I wouldn’t stand in the wake of it, but it hasn’t killed anyone yet and we have used it for 20 years," said Ms. Lehman.
The pesticide takes about four hours to dry completely, depending on the weather.
Individuals at high risk for West Nile encephalitis are 50 or older, young children and those with weakened immune systems.
Most symptoms of the disease are mild, such as fever, headache, and body aches, with a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Severe symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.
An announcement from the township Health Department advises residents to take precautions such as eliminating standing water near homes; limiting outdoor activity at dawn, dusk and early evening; wearing long pants and sleeves; and using insect repellent as directions specify.
Spraying times and days will be aired on WCTC 1450 AM radio.
For more information, contact the Somerset County Mosquito Commission at 231-7072 or the Hillsborough Health Department at 369-5652.
See last Thursday’s story
County sprays for mosquitoes in Belle Mead