First human case of West Nile Virus reported in Boulder
County for 2007
July 13, 2007 - Boulder, Colo. - Just one day after receiving confirmation of
the first West Nile Virus (WNV) positive mosquito pools in
Boulder County, the first human case of the virus has been
confirmed. The resident is a 54-year-old man who lives in
East Boulder County. His symptoms began on June 26 with a
fever, "head-to-toe" rash, headache, blurred vision, loss of
appetite, nausea and a sore throat. As of Thursday morning
he reported that he had returned to work but continues to
feel unwell. The man reported being bitten by mosquitoes at
home while in his yard.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of self
protection,” said Nisha Alden, Boulder County Public Health
(BCPH) epidemiologist. “We are monitoring mosquito pools and
working with municipalities to respond to high levels of
mosquitoes to help protect the community, but if residents
can also follow the recommendations to take precautions, it
can make all the difference.”
Public health officials remind residents to follow not
just one, but ALL of the four Ds:
- DEET - use DEET-enhanced insect repellant or
alternative.
- Dress in long sleeves and pants.
- Dusk to dawn - avoid the outdoors during this
timeframe.
- Drain standing water outside the home.
“Residents should also make sure that their DEET products
are not out-of-date and that the screens on the windows and
doors around the house do not have rips or tears,” said
Alden. “It’s also helpful for residents to talk with their
neighbors to make sure that everyone is minimizing potential
breeding grounds by draining standing water.”
Health officials also urge residents to report high
levels of mosquito activity near their homes. Contact
information for reporting can be found at
www.BoulderCountyMosquito.net or by calling the BCPH hotline
at 303-441-1460.
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. If
people suspect they have WNV symptoms, BCPH urges them to
consult with their primary care physicians.
To ask specific questions about West Nile Virus,
residents can call the Colorado Health Education Line at
1-877-462-2911 (available in Spanish and English).
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