The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), alongside the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA), is urging residents to eliminate standing water around their properties. This measure aims to control mosquito populations and reduce the risk of diseases transmitted through mosquito bites.
Recent wet weather in New Jersey has led to an increase in larval pools, which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. As a result, local mosquito complaints have risen, prompting county mosquito control agencies to seek public cooperation in reducing these populations.
Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette emphasized the importance of public involvement: “New Jersey’s Mosquito Control Commission works with the county-level commissions to ensure best practices statewide in combatting the nuisances and risks that result from breeding mosquitoes,” he said. He also highlighted the role of homeowners in eliminating standing water as part of seasonal maintenance efforts.
Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown advised on personal protection measures: “Use insect repellent and wear protective clothing if you plan on being outdoors. Also, be sure to take steps to control mosquitoes outside your home and prevent them from coming inside.”
Ed Wengryn, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, stressed that farmers should remove standing water from their farms: “It is important for New Jersey farmers to remove standing water from their farms to avoid the spread of West Nile and Equine Encephalitis to animals and people.”
Mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV) pose significant health risks. In 2024, 41 cases of WNV were reported in New Jersey, resulting in eight fatalities. EEE is less common but more severe than WNV; two cases were reported last year.
Symptoms for these diseases range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe neurological illnesses like meningitis or encephalitis. People over 55 years old are at higher risk for severe illness.
To prevent mosquito bites, residents are encouraged to use EPA-registered insect repellents, wear protective clothing outdoors, empty containers holding stagnant water weekly, clear clogged gutters, dispose of unused containers that can hold water, maintain swimming pools properly, and stay indoors with air conditioning or window screens when possible.
If issues persist after taking preventive measures, residents should contact their county mosquito control agency for assistance.
The New Jersey State Mosquito Control Commission was established in 1956 with a mission to protect public health by managing nuisance mosquitoes and preventing mosquito-borne diseases across all counties within the state.
