Larimer County has reported the first case of West Nile virus of the year, according to the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment.
A Loveland resident showed symptoms of the virus, which a blood test later confirmed to be West Nile virus. The department believes the infection occurred in the last full week of May.
The resident was not hospitalized and did not have a travel history, so the department will view the report as a locally contracted case, according to Katie O’Donnell, a spokeswoman for the health department.
O’Donnell also said seeing cases of the virus in early June is uncommon, unless it’s during seasons with high amounts of reported cases, as it was in 2003.
“It’s definitely early. Last year’s first reported case was in August, and most first cases we see are in July,” O’Donnell said. “But even though it’s early, it could be that we had a carry over from last season, but we as a county don’t start testing mosquitos for the virus until next week, so we aren’t able to determine that.”
West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes, and in about 75 percent of cases no symptoms occur. When a case is confirmed, O’Donnell said they’re categorized by two types: West Nile fever and a more severe neuroinvasive form, which can lead to critical illness, hospitalization, or even death.
Seasons with higher reports of West Nile cases are typically tied to a hot and wet spring season, according to O’Donnell. She also said that based on research in virus cases, the state of a person’s health doesn’t make them immune to contracting the infection.
“A crazy thing for me from my research and working with these patients, is that it doesn’t matter how healthy or unhealthy you are — some cases have been marathon runners,” O’Donnell said. “If you have a lower immune system, of course it makes it easier to contract, but it doesn’t really seem to matter.”
The department also stressed the preventive measures people can take to avoid contracting the virus, reminding folks to wear long pants and sleeves to avoid mosquito bites, removing standing water from yards and gardens and remembering to wear bug repellent when outdoors.
“I always tell people, just put on bug spray. I know you don’t like to put on bug spray, but if you do, it saves you from getting it,” O’Donnell said.
