Board of Health: respiratory illnesses easing; township urges pet licensing, mosquito prevention

Jill, a member of West Windsor’s health department staff, told the Board of Health Thursday that emergency department visits and hospital admissions for influenza, COVID‑19 and RSV are decreasing but that most current cases are among people 65 and older, and that precautions should continue.

"Respiratory illness rates are improving," Jill said during the meeting, and she urged residents to stay current on vaccinations.

Jill reviewed recent and upcoming public‑health activities: a rabies clinic on April 24 that provided 25 pet vaccinations; outreach tabling at the West Windsor Farmers Market on May 17; a May 21 Healthy Outlooks program in partnership with the Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction focused on alternative approaches to pain management; and a June 24 vision screening at the senior center. She also said the health department will pilot consumer‑goods testing during lead‑prevention workshops at local child‑care centers.

Environmental‑health staff enter a busy season, Jill said: last year the department issued about 400 temporary food‑vendor licenses and will inspect roughly 28 public pools across three towns as facilities reopen. She warned residents to reduce standing water and clean yard debris to limit mosquito breeding and noted that yard waste placement must follow Department of Public Works rules — items should be out no earlier than seven days before pickup, be at least 10 feet from storm drains if put in the street, and not block hydrants.

On pet licensing, the first‑quarter report cited 628 dog licenses and 12 cat licenses; council members and staff said cat licensing has inched up since the report but overall licensing rates have fallen. Jill clarified licensing timing: a rabies certificate used to qualify for a 2025 license must be valid for 10 months of the licensing year and through Nov. 1 of the license year.

Jill said the health department tracked 208 communicable‑disease investigations in the three towns it serves; those cases included exposures that required 21‑day follow‑up but produced no confirmed measles cases. Councilmembers asked for clearer public messaging about rabies vaccine timing and licensing requirements, and staff said they will work to make guidance easier to find on the township website.

The Board of Health approved minutes from its Feb. 10 meeting by roll call (Gawas: yes; Cheevers: yes; Weiss: yes; Whitfield: abstain; Mandel: yes) and later adjourned by voice vote.