Mesa County reports this year’s first human case of West Nile in Colorado
The Mesa County Health Department says West Nile Virus has sickened a person in western Colorado. It’s the first case of West Nile confirmed in a person in 2015.
West Nile has also been detected in mosquitoes in Denver and Larimer counties this year, according to Fight the Bite Colorado.
West Nile is spread by mosquitoes. The Mesa County Health Department says you should avoid spending time outside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
If you are planning to be outside when mosquitoes are active, you should wear long sleeves and pants and wear insect repellent that contains DEET to guard against mosquito bites. It is also important to drain any standing water on your property to cut down on the number of mosquitoes around your home.
According to Fight the Bite Colorado, West Nile came to the United States in 1999. Before that, it was common in Africa, west Asia and the Middle East.
The site says West Nile is carried long distances by infected birds and spread by mosquitoes that bite the sick birds.
Many cases of West Nile are mild, but in some cases it can be fatal.
Symptoms of severe West Nile infection include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness or convulsions.
