Boulder County Public Health
Recommends Emergency Spraying
for Longmont
July 17, 2007 - Boulder, Colo. - After
receiving results for mosquito pool trapping in Longmont,
Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) officials have met with
City of Longmont officials and recommended emergency
spraying for the city. The first West Nile virus (WNV)
positive mosquito pools in Boulder County and the first
human case of the illness for 2007 were confirmed last week.
The Vector Index, a calculation that helps indicate the
risk of human WNV infection, from July 9th mosquito pool
testing in Longmont yielded an index of 1.09. The traps
continue to maintain high levels of Culex (the type of
mosquito that carries the virus). The index from the July
11th trapping was 0.89. When an index threshold of 0.75 is
reached in a given area, county health officials recommend
that leaders in affected municipalities implement emergency
spraying.
“Mosquito activity so far this year indicates that this
is going to be a severe season,” said Chuck Stout, BCPH
director. “We are fortunate that we had numerous planning
discussions with city leaders well in advance of the WNV
season and, like surrounding counties, are prepared to make
formal recommendations for a spray option in order to
protect our residents.”
Health officials have also recommended spraying of a
one-mile buffer surrounding the city. In addition, BCPH is
working closely with Weld County health officials to ensure
other areas surrounding Longmont are sprayed.
“Based on data since WNV arrived in Colorado, we have
learned that there is a four to six week window period in
which spraying is most effective to reduce the human risk of
infection,” said Health Harmon, BCPH Communicable Disease
Division manager. “Knowing this, and knowing that mosquito
populations are far higher now than at any point last year,
now is the time to respond.”
To date, there has been a 328% increase in the number of
Culex from the same week in July last year. Overall Culex
counts have increased 409 % for the entire season-to-date
from the 2006 season. There has been one confirmed human
case of WNV in Boulder County, and three additional cases
confirmed statewide.
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 3 to 14 days after being
bitten by a mosquito. Persons who experience these symptoms
should consult with their doctor or local community health
clinic.
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.
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 <http://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 Education Line for the public at
1-877-462-2911 (available in Spanish and English).
If people suspect they have WNV symptoms, BCPH urges them
to consult with their primary care physicians.
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