Some holiday advice from the health department: If you’re venturing outdoors this weekend, bring mosquito repellent.
On Friday, the Department of Public Health and Environment received its first confirmed case of West Nile virus this year, from Weld County.
The victim, a 53-year-old woman, is recovering at home.
“Although we can’t predict how severe the West Nile virus season will be this year, we do know that we will see virus activity statewide,” said Elisabeth Lawaczeck, the state public health veterinarian.
West Nile virus is carried by certain birds and transmitted to people by mosquitoes that have stung the carriers. Cool, wet weather in spring followed by unusually hot summer temperatures increase mosquito populations and the risk of disease.
In most cases, West Nile virus causes nothing more serious than a fever, but about one-fifth of the cases develop into meningitis or encephalitis, which can be fatal.
Last year, there were 103 cases in Colorado. Three people died.
That’s a considerable decline from 2003, when 2,947 people were infected in Colorado and 63 died.
West Nile cases have been reported statewide, but they tend to be concentrated in the northern counties east of the Front Range mountains: Larimer, Weld and Boulder. In 2003 alone, there were 1,369 West Nile cases and 22 deaths in those counties.
The health department suggests people minimize the risk by draining any standing water around the home, minimizing outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, using insect repellent with DEET, and wearing long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk in mosquito-prone areas.
It also maintains a website with additionalinformation: .
