1st West Nile Virus Death Reported In NJ In 2026

One person has died of West Nile Virus in New Jersey in 2026, according to the state Department of Health.

The health department's weekly update on the virus said there have been 26 reported cases of the mosquito-borne virus this year. In addition, five people who were blood donors were found to be carrying the virus but were asymptomatic, the update said.

West Nile Virus causes flu-like symptoms, such as fever with headache or body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with mild illness recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Severe cases of the illness can affect the central nervous system and can result in hospitalization or death. Symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness, and more. Recovery from severe illness can take several weeks or months. Some effects may be permanent, the CDC said.

The 26 cases reported included eight new cases reported for the last week of September, the state health department said.

West Nile Virus cases have been reported in 13 counties. Monmouth County had the highest with six cases, according to the health department. The county's mosquito control commission has been using targeted spraying in parts of the county since the summer to address the issue.

Mercer County had the second-highest number of cases with four, and Camden had three cases, according to the health department.

"The number of reported cases in recent weeks is higher than average," the health department said.

The full list of case reports can be seen here:

In addition to the reported cases, the state said there are 49 additional mosquito pools that tested positive for West Nile Virus, for a total of 1,182 positive pools, which is higher than historical trends.

The cumulative minimum infection rate is highest in Mercer and Hudson counties, and the average number of Culex mosquitoes, which are associated with transmission of the virus, is highest in Bergen and Salem counties, the state said.