N.J. Finds First Human Case of West Nile

Aug 15, 2003

TRENTON (AP) A Bridgeton man spent three days this month in a hospital with West Nile virus.

He was the first in the state to be diagnosed with the disease this summer, said Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Human Services.

The 33-year-old man came down with a fever on July 28. He was admitted to a hospital Aug. 5 and discharged Aug. 8. He was home recovering this week.

The state was awaiting confirmation from the U.S Centers for Disease Control that the man indeed had West Nile, which is transmitted by mosquitos that bite infected birds and then people.

The disease, which has been spreading from the Northeast to other parts of the country, causes flu-like symptoms. But the young and old especially can find their lives at risk from the disease.

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