Local health experts suggest ways to avoid West Nile virus

The West Nile virus outbreak continues to grow nationwide, but in Colorado, there have only been three confirmed cases – none of which are in El Paso or Pueblo counties.

“There’s a possibility that a case could occur in Colorado Springs,” said Dr. Bill Letson, from the El Paso County Public Health department. “We know that the mosquitoes that transmit the infection are active and the state testing of those mosquitoes has revealed some of them do contain the virus.”

But there’s no reason to be alarmed.

Dr. Letson says the possibility we could see a case of West Nile virus in our area is about the same on any given year. And this summer’s dry conditions could actually reduce that possibility.

“I think the risk this year is certainly not zero, but it’s probably low this year” he said. “And I don’t think people should worry too too much about this.”

He says there are certain precautions you can take:

– Wear bug repellent when you’re outside,
– Wear long sleeves and long pants,
– Limit your time outdoors during early dawn and late dusk, when mosquitoes that carry the virus are more likely to bite, and
– If you have standing water in your backyard or around your house, drain it so there aren’t places for mosquitoes to breed.

Dr. Letson says nine out of 10 people never experience symptoms. You might get headaches, fever, body ache, or nausea. But if you start feeling confused and lost, he suggests seeking medical help.

You can find more information about the West Nile Virus here.