Passaic County Zika Virus Cases Are At 18 Now

PASSAIC COUNTY, N.J. — The number of Zika virus cases in Passaic County has reached 18, up from 11 since mid-June.

There are now 97 confirmed cases of the virus in New Jersey, a more than 50 percent increase since the numbers were last reported by the state Department of Health when there were 61, according to officials.

Passaic currently ranks second in the number of cases per county in New Jersey. Bergen is first with 21, the data shows. Hudson and Essex are next with 11 and eight cases, respectively.

The department recently was one of 40 agencies nationwide awarded part of $!6 million in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The money will be used to better detect microcephaly — a serious birth defect of the brain — and other adverse outcomes the virus causes.

"It is critical to identify infants with birth defects related to Zika virus so we can support them and their families," said CDC Director Tom Frieden in a statement. "The CDC funding provides real-time data about the Zika epidemic as it unfolds in the United States and territories and will help those most devastated by the virus."

All 97 New Jersey cases are travel-related, the DOH reported.

Certain areas of New Jersey, such as Bergen County, have a higher number of cases based on population, especially if people have family and travel to Zika-affected countries.

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization. Aside from mosquitoes, Zika can be spread through sexual contact, the CDC notes.

Zika is spread by a specific type of mosquito — the Aedes aegypti mosquito. There is currently no vaccine for the virus. The mosquito was once thought to be a threat only to the southern areas of the United States.

Counties like Bergen and Passaic are doing more proactive mosquito spraying and stocking ponds and other small standing bodies of water with fish that feed off of mosquito larvae.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: The the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is responsible for transmitting the Zika virus and other diseases, like dengue fever.