West Nile virus has been found in Boulder County.
Boulder County Public Health confirmed that, last week, mosquitoes trapped on the east side of Niwot tested positive for West Nile. No other testing sites returned positive results.
West Nile virus most often causes mild infections, but can, in some cases, become more serious, leading to encephalitis, meningitis, vision loss, paralysis or death.
Although the West Nile mosquito numbers are low, any risk of transmission is worth taking precautions, BCPH said.
“We’ve seen low numbers of mosquitoes so far, but we expect them to increase as the season goes on,” Marshall Lipps, environmental health specialist at Boulder County Public Health, wrote in a release. “However, West Nile virus transmission risk still exists in Boulder County and surrounding areas, and we encourage the community to take personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Finding a positive mosquito in one location doesn’t mean the risk is limited to that area. West Nile virus can still be present anywhere across the county.”
Boulder County residents are encouraged to use insect repellent with DEET, wear long pants and sleeves, limit activity during nighttime hours and remove standing water from their property.
West Nile symptoms include fever, fatigue, body aches and sometimes rash or swollen lymph nodes. Those experiencing any of those symptoms are encouraged to contact their health care provider, BCPH said.
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