Denver confirms first West Nile virus case for 2024

DENVER – A Denver resident is recovering from a West Nile virus infection.

This is the first human case of West Nile virus in Denver this year, according to a news release from the Denver Department of Health and Environment on Friday. A department spokesperson said the person was hospitalized and has since been released.

August and September are the months when most West Nile virus cases are diagnosed in Colorado, the release said, but cases can occur as early as May and as late as December. Last year, Colorado recorded more West Nile virus cases than any other state in the U.S.

Health authorities are urging citizens to take measures to prevent the virus, which is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The authority makes the following recommendations:

• Prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs in or near water on your property.
  • Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover or throw away items that contain water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, wheelbarrows, pools, birdbaths, flower pots or garbage containers.
  • Look for water storage containers both indoors and outdoors.
  • Do not water your concrete or the road. This can create puddles that will harbor mosquito larvae.
  • When making landscaping decisions, consider ways to minimize overspray of irrigation products onto roads and into sewers.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved insect repellents containing DEET. When used as directed, EPA-approved insect repellents are safe and effective, including for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn as mosquitoes are most active at this time.
• Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors.
• Use mosquito repellent as well as candles, incense sticks and other means to keep mosquitoes away from your area.
• Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes out.

The press release states that typical symptoms of the West Nile virus, which usually appear three to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, include fever, extreme fatigue, headache and body aches. Infected people can also get rashes and swollen lymph nodes, according to the press release. People with symptoms should see a doctor.

Although most symptoms of West Nile virus are mild, the press release states that people over 50 or those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing more severe illness.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.