Boulder County Public Health has confirmed the county's first human case of West Nile Virus this year in a man over 65 from Longmont.
He was tested and diagnosed after reporting stiffness and pain in his joints, fever, chills, abdominal pain and body aches, the health department said in a release Friday.
Symptoms of the West Nile Virus typically appear three to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and can include fever, extreme fatigue, headache and body aches. Skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes can also occur.
Boulder County Public Health advises that anyone who experiences these symptoms should consult a health care provider.
The West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito. Everyone is at risk of infection, but people over 50 or who have a weakened immune system are at greater risk of developing a serious illness.
The health department added that while most cases are mild, serious infections can cause inflammation of the brain or brain’s line, loss of vision, paralysis, coma, tremors, convulsions and death.
There is no treatment, cure or human vaccination for the virus, but health care providers can treat symptoms to help patients feel better and possibly recover more quickly.
For Colorado, most West Nile Virus cases are diagnosed in August or September, but cases can be identified as early as May and as late as December. Mosquito season typically extends from late April until mid-October, with the end usually signaled by the first fall freeze.
“This is the time of year when we see the most people become ill from West Nile Virus infections,” said Sandra Sonoda, communicable disease nurse at Boulder County Public Health, in the release. “We all need to continue to be diligent about protecting ourselves from mosquito bites particularly between dusk and dawn.”
Boulder County Public Health urges residents to follow the four Ds:
- Use insect repellent that contains at least 10% DEET or another CDC approved repellent. If outside during evening, nighttime and dawn hours, consider the use of an insect repellent containing 10% to 30% DEET.
- DRESS in long sleeves and pants.
- Avoid the outdoors from DUSK until DAWN.
- DRAIN standing water outside your home.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides up-to-date data about the West Nile Virus at www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/west-nile-virus-data.
For more information about the virus and mosquito activity in Boulder County, or steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones, visit boco.org/WestNile.
