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With the most recent deaths in Boulder and Larimer counties, Colorado has now experienced five fatalities linked to the West Nile virus.
Colorado's LARIMER COUNTY — West Nile virus has already claimed the lives of five people across the state this year, including two recent deaths in Colorado.
Late last month, a resident of Larimer County passed away due to neuroinvasive West Nile virus, according to the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE). This is the first West Nile death of the year in the county. The 66-year-old resident who passed away had been hospitalized since the end of July, according to the health department.
The first West Nile virus death of the year was reported in Boulder County on Tuesday afternoon. The infection had caused meningoencephalitis in the Longmont resident.
According to LCDHE, there have been 29 confirmed cases of West Nile so far this year, eight of whom required hospitalization. According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), 72 people have been afflicted across the state this year, 41 people have needed hospitalization, and three people have passed away.
Tom Gonzales, the director of public health for Larimer County, said that for the next month or two, there will likely be more cases of West Nile virus. "We still observe mosquito pools with positive results from the weekly testing and trapping. As a result, we implore locals to treat this illness seriously and take further steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
When mosquitoes bite infected birds and subsequently bite humans, the disease spreads. Humans cannot spread the sickness to other humans. According to LCDHE, the disease's symptoms can appear three to 14 days after infection.
Some signs could be:
fever plus headache
vomiting
diarrhea
muscle aches
joint pain
weakness
rash
Residents must take precautions, according to health officials, to avoid mosquito bites. To practice the 4 D's, they advised:
Use a mosquito repellent that works to protect you. DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (also known as p-menthane-3,8-diol or PMD), and IR3535 should all be present in products.
From dark to dawn, when mosquitoes are at their most active eating, stay inside.
Dress – To prevent mosquito bites, wear long sleeves and pants.
To reduce mosquito breeding places, drain or remove standing water from your garden or yard.
The health department has additional advice on avoiding illness. West Nile Virus here.
