Contacts: Lori Maldonado
Public Information Specialist
(303) 692-2028 - Office
(303) 921-8598 – Cell
Cindy Parmenter
Director of Communications
(303) 692-2013 - Office
(303) 891-8382 - Pager
For Immediate Release Monday, September 29, 2003
Two West Nile Virus Death Reported
DENVER – State health officials Monday reported two additional
deaths from West Nile virus, bringing the total of deaths in the state to 42.
The deaths included:
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A 76-year-old woman from Boulder County, who was suffering from encephalitis.
She died on September 21. This is the fourth West Nile virus-related death for
Boulder County.
-
A woman from Otero County, who was suffering from encephalitis. Her age and
date of death were not released due to the small size of the population in Otero
County. This is the first West Nile virus-related death for Otero County.
State health officials also reported 22 new human cases of West Nile virus in
Colorado, bringing the total to 2,013.
Other totals for confirmed cases of West Nile virus reported in Colorado this
year include 703 birds; 584 horses; 135 blood samples taken from chickens in the
23 sentinel chicken flocks maintained by the state and local health departments
at locations across Colorado; and 621 mosquito pools.
Colorado’s human deaths resulting from the disease, as reported by the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment, include:
· Adams County: 85-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 28.
· Adams County: 74-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 26.
· Adams County: 84-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 15.
· Arapahoe County: 83-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 9.
· Arapahoe County: 80-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 7.
· Arapahoe County: 60-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 23.
· Boulder County: 67-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 11.
· Boulder County: 73-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 29.
· Boulder County: 53-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 15.
· City and County of Denver: 64-year-old woman, who was suffering from
meningitis. Death reported on September 3.
· City and County of Denver: 80-year-old man, who was suffering from meningitis.
Death reported on August 22.
· City and County of Denver: 67-year-old man, who was suffering from West Nile
fever. Death reported on August 31.
· City and County of Denver: 77-year-old male, who was suffering from
encephalitis. Death reported on September 4.
· City and County of Denver: 80-year-old woman, who was suffering from
encephalitis. Death reported on September 8.
· City and County of Denver: 82-year-old woman, who was suffering from
encephalitis. Death reported on September 11.
· City and County of Denver: 71-year-old man, who was suffering from meningitis.
Death reported on September 16.
· El Paso County: 71-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 14.
· Fremont County: 79-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 18.
· Fremont County: 67-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 10.
· Jefferson County: 89-year-old male, who was suffering encephalitis. Death
reported on September 6.
· Jefferson County: 66-year-old male, who was suffering from meningitis. Death
reported on September 7.
· Larimer County: 75-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 4.
· Larimer County: 68-year-old woman, who was suffering from West Nile fever.
Death reported on August 7.
· Larimer County: 80-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 12.
· Larimer County: 80-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 6.
· Larimer County: 77-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 2
· Larimer County: 79-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 15.
· Lincoln County: 75-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 2.
· Logan County: 76-year-old man, who was suffering from West Nile fever. Death
reported on September 3.
· Mesa County: 77-year-old woman, who was suffering from meningitis. Death
reported on September 14.
· Mesa County: 71-year-old woman, who was suffering from West Nile fever. Death
reported on September 15.
· Pueblo County: 82-year-old woman who was suffering from West Nile fever. Death
reported on September 2.
· Pueblo County: 84-year-old woman, who was suffering encephalitis. Death
reported on August 6.
· Pueblo County: 83-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 6.
· Pueblo County: 85-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 27.
· Weld County: 77-year-old woman, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 5.
· Weld County: 69-year-old woman, who was suffering from meningitis. Death
reported on August 14.
· Weld County: 73-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 15.
· Weld County: 71-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on August 22.
· Weld County: 74-year-old man, who was suffering from encephalitis. Death
reported on September 20.
Tips for preventing the spread of West Nile virus include:
· Use mosquito repellents with DEET. Products with 10 percent or less DEET are
recommended for children.
· Avoid outdoor activities, such as gardening, at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes
are most active.
· If outside during the periods when mosquitoes are most active, cover up by
wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks.
· Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get
indoors.
· Eliminate standing water in tires or similar water-holding containers as these
may serve as mosquito breeding sites. Change the water in birdbaths at least
weekly.
More information on West Nile virus can be found on the Web at
www.FighttheBiteColorado.com or by calling the Colorado Health Education Line
for the Public at 1-877-462-2911. The statewide, toll-free hotline, which is
staffed by trained operators, is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Callers to the hotline will be able to obtain information in English and Spanish
on a wide variety of topics relating to West Nile virus, including:
§ Information on repellants and how they should be used both on adults and
children.
§ Symptoms of the virus for humans. However, hotline operators will not be able
to help diagnose whether a person has contracted West Nile virus. Rather such
individuals will be referred to their personal physician for diagnosis and
treatment.
§ Methods of preventing West Nile virus.
§ How pets might be affected by the virus.
