West Nile Virus Found in Two Hackettstown Mosquitoes

Two Culex mosquitoes found in separate parts of Hackettstown in late August were found to be carrying West Nile Virus, Hackettstown Police said.

Samples were collected from Sandbar Park/Alumni Field as well as in the area of Baldwin and 4th Street on Aug. 28, police said.

Culex mosquitoes are the type responsible for transmitting the virus, specifically from bird to bird, police said. The samples were sent to the Public Health and Environmental Lab in Trenton on Sept. 2.

Four samples out of 236 from Warren County have tested positive in 2014, police said, with one in Franklin, one in White, and now two in Hackettstown.

Police ask residents to reduce the risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases by dumping or draining standing water on their property and by using repellants when possible.

The virus was also found in Hackettstown on East Baldwin Street during the same time in 2012, as reported here.