Passaic County health and human services report 2024 mosquito surveillance, communicable-disease response and launch of emergency food strategy

Passaic County health and human-services officials on a commissioners’ agenda item reviewed 2024 public-health activity and progress on a countywide plan to expand emergency food access.

Health Officer Araceli Pintell summarized the Department of Health Services’ 2024 highlights, noting mosquito surveillance and communicable-disease work. “For 2024, 51 West Nile virus mosquito pools were detected in Passaic County,” she said, and the department recorded “1 human case of West Nile virus” that was identified through a blood donation. Pintell added the county logged 12 human cases of dengue that were travel related.

Pintell reported operational outputs from the county’s divisions: mosquito-control units responded to 213 public calls, conducted treatments at 15,255 sites and tested 285 mosquito pools; environmental health completed 679 inspections and complaint responses and distributed 115 free radon test kits to homeowners; weights and measures conducted about 1,608 business inspections and inspected more than 11,000 devices; communicable disease and nursing staff managed 17 outbreaks in 2024 and held multiple vaccination and well-child clinics across county sites.

Araceli Pintell also described public-education and recycling work, including 143 solid-waste and recycling programs reaching about 2,457 students and a continuation of food-service and consumer-protection inspections in towns served under shared-service agreements.

Separately, Human Services Director Arti Kakar briefed commissioners on the county’s emergency food work during Hunger Awareness Month. The county launched an Emergency Food Provider Coalition (EFPC) after a 2024 needs assessment by William Paterson University and has convened partner organizations to adopt trauma-informed practices, increase “lived experience” input, and expand food rescue. Consultant Mr. Owens summarized the strategic plan: the EFPC has about 20 active members, has held six meetings since December, and formed a lived-experience group to guide operations. The county’s mobile pantry and a new food-rescue contract awarded via RFP to Table to Table are intended to improve supply for up-county pantries.

Kakar said the county’s mobile pantry is in operation in 11 municipalities with plans to expand; she described the mobile site as offering wraparound services that connect residents to SNAP, housing navigation and other referrals.

Commissioners noted two administrative updates during the exchange: the county expects to maintain existing federal public-health grant agreements through the current contract terms after litigation rescinded earlier proposed funding cuts, and the county is progressing on a satellite office in West Milford that will combine health, human services and senior services and is expected to open early next year (county official provided the update during the meeting).

There were no votes tied to the presentation; commissioners asked questions and received operational detail about inspection counts, volunteer hours from the Medical Reserve Corps, and outreach numbers.