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For Immediate Release •
July 25, 2008
Staff Contact: Chana Goussetis, Health Communications Specialist, Boulder County Public Health, 303-441-1457
View the most recent Press Releases.
For more West Nile Virus Information
JULY 25, 2008 - Three Boulder County women were confirmed positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) yesterday, bringing the total number of WNV cases in Boulder County to four this year, with six being reported statewide so far this season. Two of the new cases are in their 50s and one is in her 30s; two are in Longmont and the other is in Boulder. All three women were diagnosed with uncomplicated fever and are recovering at home.
"These cases are a reminder that we cannot rely only on the monitoring of mosquito pools to tell us when we are at risk. I cannot stress strongly enough that residents must be diligent in taking steps to protect themselves and their families,” said Nisha Alden, Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) epidemiologist.
Although a significant number of Culex mosquitoes (the type of mosquito that carries WNV) have been reported in traps across the county to date, none have tested positive for carrying the virus. However, mosquito pools in Larimer, Otero, and Prowers counties did test positive for WNV this past week.
In addition to the four Boulder County cases, human cases of WNV in Colorado have been con-firmed in Larimer (1) and Logan (1) counties. Human cases have also been reported in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.
Colorado was the first state to report positive human cases of the virus last year and had a total of 576 cases by the end of the season. Colorado was fourth in the country for human deaths from WNV in 2007, with a total of seven.
WNV is a disease that can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Most infections are mild; however, the more serious infections can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and/or meningitis (inflammation of the brain's lining); loss of vision; paralysis; coma; tremors; convulsions; and in some cases, death. See on-line video.
Symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally can include skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms generally appear 3 to 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult with their doctor or local community health clinic.
There is no cure or vaccination for WNV; health care providers can only treat the symptoms to help patients feel better and possibly recover more quickly. The only treatment available is prevention.
Public health officials remind residents that, as we enjoy these warm temperatures with outdoor activities, particularly at dusk and dawn, it is important that everyone take action to protect themselves by following ALL of the four Ds. The 4 D’s are:
• DEET – use DEET-enhanced insect repellant or alternative.
• Dress in long sleeves and pants.
• Dusk to dawn - avoid the outdoors.
• Drain standing water outside the home.
For more information about WNV, please visit the BCPH website at www.BoulderCountyMosquito.net. A pre-recorded message for general information is also available at 303-441-1460. To ask specific questions, call the Colorado Health Information Line at 1-877-462-2911 (available in Spanish and English). See more information on the City of Longmont West Nile Virus page.
If you suspect you have WNV symptoms, BCPH urges you to consult with your healthcare pro-vider.
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