State planning for this year's West Nile virus response began late last year with a cabinet-level meeting attended by the Commissioners of Health and Senior Services, Environmental Protection, the Secretary of Agriculture and key staff members including a representative from the New Jersey Economic Growth Commission. Putting to use the lessons learned in dealing with the virus the past two years, we have developed a plan of action that reduces the risk of West Nile virus infection here in New Jersey. A key strategy we will employ is to combine aggressive mosquito control efforts with increased surveillance, testing and public education. Each county is pulling together local tire-clean up plans in preparation for this year. The grants will go a long way in fighting the spread of the mosquito-born West Nile virus.
Scrap tires make excellent breeding grounds.
Additionally, Shinn emphasized that the county grants represented just one aspect of the state's tire clean-up program. Curtailing exposure is their best defense until an effective vaccine can be developed. West Nile virus, an arboviral disease, is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. WNV is not directly transmitted from birds or horses to humans, from horse to horse, or from person to person. Likewise, infected horses may not show any symptoms of the disease.