DENVER — Two new deaths from the West Nile virus were reported in Colorado on Tuesday, bringing the total to at least five deaths so far this season.
A 66-year-old Larimer County resident and a Boulder County resident are the latest victims to die from the mosquito-born virus this season. The Larimer County victim had been hospitalized since the end of July, according to Larimer County Health and Environment.
Jefferson, La Plata, Pueblo, and Weld counties have also reported deaths, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Colorado reported its first death attributed to West Nile virus in early August, after a 53-year-old man in Weld County died from complications of the disease.
The number of confirmed human cases of the virus has soared in the state in the past month. As of Tuesday, there have been 74 people affected by West Nile in Colorado. Of those 74 cases, 43 have been hospitalized, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The symptoms of a West Nile virus infection can vary greatly, with the majority of infected people showing no symptoms at all. Generally, it takes two to 14 days after infection for symptoms to appear, which can include nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness in muscles, rashes and headaches, according to the CDPHE.
While the majority of infected people don’t show symptoms, those that do typically experience headaches, weakness, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and skin rashes. Around 1% of those infected can develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neuroinvasive disease, such as meningitis and encephalitis, the CDPHE said.
There are no medications to treat, or vaccines to prevent, a West Nile virus infection.
How to protect yourself and your family from West Nile virus
Health experts have been warning Coloradans to protect themselves as populations of Culex mosquitoes were expected to increase this year due the unusual amount of precipitation this winter and spring.
As mosquito season continues, health officials recommend taking the following steps to protect yourself and your family from West Nile virus:
- Limiting activities outdoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
- Wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks in areas where mosquitoes are active
- Using an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol
- Eliminate sources of standing water near your home, which can become a breeding ground for the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus.
In addition to eliminating sources of standing water around your home weekly, you can also mosquito-proof your home by installing or repairing screens on windows and doors.
The CDPHE recommends talking with a health care provider if you develop a fever with severe headaches or confusion following a mosquito bite.
Last year, Colorado reported 206 human cases of West Nile virus, including 20 deaths.
