Hitting the Jersey shore this weekend? EEE, West Nile found in NJ. How to stay safe

A New Jersey township issued an advisory earlier this month after mosquitoes there tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus, a rare but potentially fatal mosquito-borne virus.

Rockaway in Morris County was then sprayed in the area where the infected mosquitoes were identified, a township official said.

It was one of five New Jersey counties were the virus has been found this year, with at least one human case identified in Atlantic County, where officials have also taken control measures since the EEE case was identified there, according to the county's website. No cases have been identified in Pennsylvania.

Several other EEE cases have been identified this year, largely in New England. Massachusetts counties have implemented spraying and curfew measures; a second human case was identified in the state on Thursday. Public health officials there have expressed concern that the virus has been found outside of its traditional hotspots in swampy, low-lying areas.

The EEE infections come as New Jersey has seen higher West Nile virus activity than usual this summer. Both viral infections peak in early fall, when mosquitoes are most active, public health officials and pathobiology experts say.

Hitting the Jersey shore this weekend? How to prevent EEE and West Nile

As there is no vaccine or cure for EEE or West Nile, the best way to avoid infection is to prevent mosquito bites, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The health agency recommends using insect repellant, wearing long clothing, and controlling mosquito populations both indoors and outdoors. Atlantic County urges residents to eliminate standing pools of water, clean gutters, and repair screen doors.

Reporter Jess Rohan can be reached at jrohan@gannett.com