16/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 16/08/2024 17:13
Published on August 16, 2024
The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) is urging residents to take caution after DDPHE disease intervention specialists confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in a Denver resident.
West Nile virus is most commonly spread to people from the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus is not spread through person-to-person transmission. In Colorado, most West Nile virus cases are diagnosed in August and September, but cases can be identified as early as May and as late as December. Generally, the mosquito season extends from late-April until mid-October, with the end usually signaled by the first freeze in the fall.
DDPHE recommends residents do their part and help protect the community against West Nile virus by taking the following precautions:
While everyone is at risk of being infected with West Nile virus, those over 50 years old, or with weakened immune systems, are at greater risk of developing serious illness. Symptoms of West Nile virus typically include fever, extreme fatigue, headache, body aches, but can also occasionally include skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms generally appear three to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. While most infections are mild, 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 even death.
Denver residents who experience these symptoms should consult their doctor. There is no treatment, cure, or human vaccination for the virus, but medical professionals can treat symptoms to help patients feel better and possibly recover more quickly.
For more information about West Nile virus in Colorado or mosquito activity data, visit the CDPHE website. Learn more about how Denver manages the mosquito population in the DDPHE Environmental What If podcast.