- A Carbondale man is Garfield County's first human case
of West Nile virus, county health officials announced Monday.
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- Mary Meisner, the county's public health nursing director,
said a blood sample from the man tested positive for the virus late last
week.
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- According to a Web site operated by the Colorado Department
of Health and Environment and several county health departments, the man
- whose age was not released - was diagnosed with West Nile-related fever.
The date of the illness's onset is listed as Aug. 11. Meisner said the
man was hospitalized with the illness and has since been released.
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- "(The victim) had all the generic symptoms of West
Nile," Meisner said.
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- Symptoms of mild West Nile infections can include headache,
fever, body aches, weakness and rash. More severe infections can cause
meningitis, which is inflammation of the brain's lining, and encephalitis,
which is brain swelling.
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- Meisner said illness severity can vary from person to
person.
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- "We know it's more severe in the elderly and that
young children are especially vulnerable as well," she said.
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- The Carbondale victim is believed to have contracted
the virus in Garfield County. Meisner said the man had not traveled out
of Garfield County during the incubation period, which lasts between three
and 10 days.
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- "I think there's a strong possibility that we could
see more cases, but it's my hope that people are being prudent and taking
precautions," Meisner said.
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- West Nile virus spreads to humans through mosquito bites.
Health officials recommend that people drain standing water on their property
or treat it with material to kill mosquito larvae; avoid going outdoors
at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active; dress in long sleeves
and pants if you must be outdoors at dusk and dawn; and use a repellent
containing DEET to protect exposed skin from insect bites.
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- "It's my concern that people aren't taking it too
seriously," Meisner said. The virus was detected earlier this summer
in dead birds collected near Battlement Mesa and Carbondale, so health
officials and the public knew it was a threat, she said.
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- So far in Colorado, 699 people have been diagnosed with
West Nile virus. Eight people have died, all of whom were Front Range residents.
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- On the Western Slope, Garfield and Delta counties have
each reported one human case of West Nile virus.
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- Steve DeFeyter, director of environmental health for
the Mesa County Health Department, said he suspects some people in Mesa
County have contracted the virus but perhaps haven't seen a doctor to discuss
their symptoms. The virus has been detected in horses and birds in Mesa
County.
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- "I'm surprised we haven't seen a diagnosed human
case," DeFeyter said. "I believe there are cases out there that
are undiagnosed, and I believe we'll eventually have a positive case."
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- DeFeyter and Meisner said the virus will remain a threat
until the first hard freeze, which will kill mosquitoes or send them into
hibernation.
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- "I'm hoping for an early frost," Meisner said.
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- Bob Kretschman can be reached via e-mail at bkretschman@gjds.com.
- © 2003 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
- The Daily Sentinel
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- http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/
2003/08/26/1061902153.00100.7272.3028.html
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