West Nile Virus Showing Up In Southern Colorado

The West Nile virus is showing up again in Southern Colorado and health officials have a warning for you.

Several mosquitoes in Otero County have tested positive for West Nile virus, but no mosquitoes have tested positive in Pueblo.

“I don’t really think about it, but I do spray my kids so they don’t get mosquitoes bites. They’re nasty,” said Alicia Anderson.

This year, there have been no reported cases of West Nile virus in humans in Southern Colorado. There was one confirmed case in Boulder.

“It’s been a light year and I think that is mainly due to the weather,” said Creighton Wright, director of Parks and Recreation in Pueblo.

The Colorado Mosquito Control still traps and sprays for mosquitoes. The set 18 traps throughout parks in Pueblo and Pueblo County. They set them out once a week. When they are picked up, the mosquitoes are taken to a lab to be tested.

Health officials said residents still need to be aware of the symptoms, which include, fever, headache, body aches and skin rashes.

?Antibiotics that kill bacteria aren’t effective. That’s why treatment is basically supportive treatment with rest and fluids,? said Su Welty with the Pueblo Health Department.

She said the best way to prevent the virus is to remember the four D?s, drain standing water, dress in long sleeves, avoid being out at dusk and dawn and use mosquito repellent with Deet.

Welty also said that four out of 5 people with the virus may not experience and symptoms.

The peak season for the virus in humans is August and September, but that changes depending on the weather that year, Welty said.