WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced $2,430,000 in federal funding to support Princeton University’s research of mosquito attraction to humans. The grant comes after recent reports of three people in New Jersey being infected by the West Nile Virus.
“Because of the rainy summer we have been experiencing, New Jersey has become a haven for mosquitos and the viruses they carry,” said Sen. Menendez. “This funding will help us get a better understanding of mosquito-borne infections, such as the West Nile Virus which has already infected several people in our state. It is important that we fully understand mosquitos and the viruses they carry so we can work to aggressively prevent the spread of further diseases and protect all New Jerseyans.”
“This grant funding will help protect public health by supporting groundbreaking research at Princeton into the mosquito species responsible for spreading illnesses like Zika, Dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, and may ultimately hold the key to preventing the transmission of these diseases,” said Sen. Cory Booker.
According to a recent article, three people from Essex, Hudson and Hunterdon counties have been infected with the virus and were hospitalized for an average of eight days. 450 mosquito pools throughout the state have tested positive for the virus, compared to only 272 last year.
Experts predict there will be a rise in mosquitos carrying the virus due to the heavy rain falls and floods that the state has been experiencing lately.
Sen. Menendez has worked to try to prevent diseases from spreading by insects. In May, Sen. Menendez outlined efforts to help curb the spike of Lymes Disease in the state. During the Zika outbreak in 2016, Sen. Menendez called on Congress to approve federal funding to respond to the growing health crisis.
