Local health officials share tips to protect against West Nile Virus

There have been 8 reported cases of West Nile Virus in Colorado this summer, so local health officials are asking the public to take precautions.

None of those cases were reported in El Paso County and health officials said they want to keep it that way.

Lee Griffen with El Paso County Public Health said people need to be proactive.

“We don’t know if it’ll hit us or not, but the conditions are ripe for the same situations that are occurring elsewhere in the country,” said Griffen.

Some of those conditions include a mild winter and hot summer.

In about 80 percent of cases, people who get West Nile Virus will not show any symptoms.

However, there are deadly cases and symptoms often start with a high fever and swollen lymph nodes.

“It’s like having flu in the summer,” said Griffen.

According to Griffen, people who have such symptoms and have had mosquito bites from being outside frequently should talk to their doctors.

An easy way to remember safety tips is the 4 Ds:

1. Dress in long sleeves and long pants when outside for long periods of time.

2. Deet is the key to repelling mosquitoes in bug spray (the higher the percentage, the better).

3. Drain out standing water near homes (that includes bird feeders and small ponds).

4. Dawn and dusk are feeding times for mosquitoes, so try to stay indoors if possible.

Colorado’s Department Public Health & Environment is planning to update the number of reported West Nile Virus cases every Monday. For the latest information, click here: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoonosis/wnv/.