A 37-year-old Parker woman has become the first person infected this year with West Nile virus in Douglas County and the 12th Coloradan to be stricken with the disease.
The woman, whose name was not released, was diagnosed with meningitis and hospitalized earlier this month. Health officials were informed of the positive test for West Nile on Wednesday. The woman is now recovering at home.
Of the 11 other people who have tested positive for West Nile this year in Colorado, three lived in Boulder County and two lived in Cheyenne County. Other cases were reported in Adams, Huerfano, Larimer, Logan, Mesa and Weld counties.
Richard Vogt, executive director of the Tri-County Health Department, said most people who get West Nile are infected by mosquitoes around their home. The Parker woman, the health department said, spent several hours each day working outside around her home.
“It is advisable to avoid all mosquito bites, as much as possible,” Vogt said in a statement. “Therefore, it is crucial that people reduce mosquito-breeding areas around their home and also use insect repellent and protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites every time they are outdoors, whether in the backwoods or in their own backyard.”
Vogt said homeowners should drain sources of standing water around their homes, use bug repellent containing DEET and avoid going outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
Most West Nile infections are mild, with symptoms including fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. But serious illness with long-lasting impacts also can occur. The disease is spread through mosquito bites and cannot be passed person-to-person.
To get more information on West Nile, go to .
