General Information for Bergen County Residents
Regarding Mosquito and
West Nile Virus Control Efforts
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS DOING:
The Bergen County Department of Health Services is participating in planning with County Government, the Mosquito Division, and the Office of Emergency Management for surveillance, vector control and public education directed to prevention, detection, response and control of the West Nile virus. The following activities are currently underway:
- A West Nile Virus Coordinator has been hired through a grant from the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS). This individual will coordinate county wide response and communication activities for West Nile Virus.
- NJDHSS has contracted with an electronic surveillance consulting company. Bergen County is one of three counties chosen to pilot a new web-based system to improve the timeliness and quality of specimen submission throughout the state.
- BCDHS will continue to meet monthly with the NJDHSS WNV Working Group and on an “as needed” basis with the Bergen County WNV Task Force. The county task force consists of representation from the County Health Department, the Mosquito Control Division, the Office of Emergency Management, the Bergen County Animal Shelter, the Bergen County Parks Department, the Bergen County Utilities Authority and the hospital, medical, veterinarian, and health officer communities.
- Communication between the County Department of Health, other Bergen County health jurisdictions, municipalities and the NJDHSS continues through LINCS (Local Information Network Communication System). The Bergen County Animal Shelter and the Bergen County Parks Department will be included in that communication for the purpose of surveillance, information sharing and alerts, if necessary.
- Preparation for virus surveillance to detect infection in mosquitoes and birds with the NJ State Department of Health, Rutgers University, the DEP and the State Mosquito Commission is underway. An ongoing hospital surveillance committee has been established and is planning with county hospitals for early identification and reporting of suspect cases.
- A system for reporting dead or sick crows and for laboratory sampling of intact, fresh dead birds by the NJDHSS has been established through local health departments. Residents are asked to report sightings and the Bergen County Animal Shelter has been established as a collection site for transport to Trenton for testing.
- Public information materials including brochures, question and answer sheets, press releases, and Internet postings have been or are being developed.
- West Nile Virus messages have been updated for the Public Health Hot Line, which will again be connected to both Health and Mosquito Control. Professional staff will be assigned to answer resident’s questions. The Public Health Hot Line phone number is (201)225-7000 and will be activated in late March.