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Gloucester County Calls Out Fish To Fend Off Zika Virus

By Alexandria Hoff and David Madden

WEST DEPTFORD, NJ (CBS) --  A batch of 5,000 little fish have a big battle ahead of them in West Deptford Township and hopefully they are hungry. As warm and muggy summer months approach, so  does a heightened risk for the spread of dangerous mosquito transmitted viruses.

South Jersey is starting its annual war against mosquitoes with a little extra urgency.

"It's even more important with the increase of the Zika virus coming this way and the effects that is having on human life and unborn lives," said Gloucester County Freeholder Director, Robert M. Damminger.

The Zika virus is carried by mosquitos from a person who is infected to others. Images of the effects it has had globally are as well-known  as they are heartbreaking.

Between January 1st, 2015 and May 4th, 2016 - 472 Americans have contracted the virus through travel to mostly South and Central American Countries. Pennsylvania has had 17 confirmed cases. Delaware has had three, and New Jersey, nine according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. None have been transmitted by mosquitos on U.S. soil, and officials in the Garden State showed Eyewitness News what they are doing to keep it that way.

A big part of that, brings the story back to those 5,000 little tadpole-looking creatures in a tub behind the West Deptford Township library: Gambusia Affinis, or Mosquito-Eating Fish.

For a decade now, Gloucester County and others across New Jersey have been putting out these little mosquito eating fish. Actually, these little one inch swimmers go after the larvae before they hatch.

"They are voracious eaters," Freeholder Director Bob Damminger told KYW Newsradio. "They will eat until they can eat no more."

"It's a very clean way to control the mosquito population because the fish eat the larvae of the mosquito. They eat them before they become a mosquito," explained Freeholder Heather Simmons.

And some 10,000 of them are being placed in retention basins throughout the county before the weather heats up and the mosquitoes come out.

Simmons stressed the importance of acting now. "It's a game changer this year because of the presence of the Zika virus," she said, "and so many other illnesses that mosquitoes carry that can impact not only humans but animals."

The fish were supplied to various counties in New Jersey by the State at no cost. Their life span will carry them through several seasons. Though the effort has been put into overdrive this year, these fish have been eating up the risk of other viruses like West Nile and Chikungunya for the last 10.

It's a large responsibility for a fish that will never exceed an inch and a half. That's why officials are clear, that residents must also take responsibility in reducing the mosquito population by getting rid of even small bodies of stagnant water.

Counties throughout the state are using these fish as one way to contain the insects. Spraying helps as well. Keep your lawn trimmed. And keep insect repellant handy.

The New Jersey Department of Health has a public call center for those who have questions about Zika: (800) 962-1253.

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