The New Jersey Department of Health announced on Friday that two individuals have succumbed to West Nile virus this year, with one fatality in Cumberland County and the other in Mercer County. Both victims were older adults.
In addition to the two deaths, six more cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Hudson, Mercer, and Middlesex counties, bringing the total number of cases to eight. All patients are over 50 years old, and seven were hospitalized with severe symptoms, including brain swelling.
Furthermore, three blood donors in Bergen, Passaic, and Somerset counties have tested positive for West Nile virus, although none showed symptoms.
The state has also reported one case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Atlantic County, involving a teenager who was hospitalized in July and has since been released.
Health officials urge residents to take precautions against mosquito-borne illnesses, such as using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and eliminating standing water around homes to prevent mosquito breeding.
Symptoms of West Nile virus and EEE include fever, chills, body aches, and joint pains, with older adults and immunocompromised individuals being more susceptible to severe illness.