WELD COUNTY, Colo. — A northern Colorado county on Friday reported its first human case of West Nile virus for 2024.
The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment did not say how the person infected with the virus is doing. Last year, 52 cases of West Nile virus were reported in Weld County.
Mosquitoes caught in three zones of Weld County have come back positive for carrying the virus.
This year, culex mosquitoes, the species that transmits the virus, have made up around 50% of the mosquitoes trapped in the county's zones, Weld health officials said.
West Nile virus symptoms can appear three to 14 days after infection. Symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle aches and weakness
- Rash
The Weld County health department said most infected people may not show any symptoms; however, less than 1% of those infected will develop a serious, sometimes deadly, neuroinvasive illness.
Health officials said people can limit their exposure to virus-carrying mosquitoes by incorporating the four 'Ds':
- Drain standing water around your house weekly. Remember to drain water from tires, cans, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, toys and puddles.
- Dusk and dawn are when mosquitoes are most active. Limit outdoor activities and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites during these times.
- DEET is an effective ingredient to look for in insect repellents. Other repellents containing picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol are also effective against mosquitoes. Always follow the product label instructions carefully.
- Dress in long sleeves and pants, and a hat, in areas where mosquitoes are active.
This is the second confirmed case of West Nile virus this year in Colorado. The first was in Arapahoe County, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.