1st 2004 Human Case of West Nile Virus, 1st Positive
Mosquito Recorded in
Boulder County
Boulder County Public Health continues Colorado’s most comprehensive
and proactive mosquito control and public
education programs.
July
1, 2004, Boulder, Colo. – Boulder County Public Health has
confirmed the county’s first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) of
2004.
A Boulder County woman in her 30s was tested
for the virus after symptoms of fever, chills, headache, myalgia, muscle
weakness, vomiting and diarrhea persisted for a week. She was not
hospitalized and is recovering.
According to Boulder County Public Health
officials, the woman reported having had multiple mosquito bites around
Memorial Day and began noticing symptoms on June 9.
The Boulder woman joins four others in the state;
two from Logan County, a
35-year-old Adams County woman, and a 30-year-old Pueblo County man, who
have tested positive for the virus.
This report of the first human case of WNV comes at
the same time as the first positive mosquito in the county. The mosquito
came from a trap located in an unincorporated area of the county.
“This first positive mosquito does not come as a
surprise” said Joe Malinowski, Consumer Protection Program Coordinator
for Boulder County Public Health, “it is consistent with the mosquito
activity we saw at this time last year. It is a strong reminder that WNV
is in Colorado and we must all take precautions to protect ourselves.”
WNV is a disease that can be transmitted to humans
by mosquitoes. While most infections are mild, 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.
Symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, body
aches, and can occasionally include skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes.
Generally, symptoms appear three to 14 days after being bitten by a
mosquito. Persons who experience these symptoms should consult their
doctor or local community health clinic.
The disease can strike even the healthiest
people regardless of age. In fact, 48 percent of the WNV patients
reported to Boulder County Public Health in 2003were between the ages of
21 and 50 years old.
“Ninety seven percent of Boulder County
residents are at risk for contracting West Nile Virus,” said Heath
Harmon, Boulder County Public Health’s epidemiologist. “We anticipate that there will be more cases this season, but
the number of cases depends on the level of precautions people take to
protect themselves.”
There is no treatment, 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.
“As the Fourth of July holiday approaches
it is important that everyone take action to protect themselves by using
the four Ds,” said Chana Goussetis, the health educator for Boulder
County Public Health.
-
DEET
– use DEET-enhanced insect repellant (a 2 percent soy-based
product is available).
-
Dress
in long sleeves and pants.
-
Dusk
to dawn avoid the outdoors.
-
Drain
standing water outside the home.
In
addition to proactively educating the public and encouraging people to
take these precautions through its ongoing “One Bite. One Life Changed Forever.” campaign, Boulder
County Public Health maintains one of the most comprehensive mosquito
control and monitoring programs in the state of Colorado. Mosquito
management in Boulder County reduces the risk of exposure to mosquitoes
that can carry WNV.
The
pest management plan, which continues through the summer, includes
surveillance, sample site testing, larva control, and adult mosquito
control. More than 50 mosquito traps are used to monitor mosquito
populations, and more than 1,000 potential mosquito-breeding sites are
continually monitored and treated during the mosquito season.
For more
information about WNV, please visit Boulder County Public Health’s Web
site at www.bouldercountymosquito.net.
A pre-recorded message for general information is available at
303-441-1460. To ask specific questions, call the Colorado Health
Education Line for the Public at 1-877-462-2911 (available in Spanish
and English).
If a
person suspects they have WNV symptoms, Boulder County Public Health
urges them to consult their primary care physician.
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