The Volunteer Website Dedicated to Strengthening the Spirit of Community Volunteerism in Nutley. At least one crow sample has been submitted from all 21 New Jersey counties. West Nile Virus can cause an illness known as West Nile Encephalitis. West Nile Encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral disease which can cause an inflammation of the brain. WNV is transmitted to people by the bite of a mosquito, primarily the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens.
Most infections are asymptomatic or mild.
In rare cases, more severe infection may result, with symptoms such as high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and rarely death. There is no specific treatment and most individuals recover spontaneously without hospitalization. However, those developing more serious symptoms require hospitalization for supportive therapy. Mosquito repellents can be very effective in preventing insect bites and should be applied to your clothing or skin. When using repellents, always read and follow the manufacturer's directions carefully.