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Westnile in colorado Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
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West Nile In Colorado: 4 Dead, 111 Infected
Aug 7, 2003 9:48 am US/Mountain
DENVER (KCNC/AP) Three more people have died of complications from the West Nile Virus, bringing the statewide total to four, health officials said Wednesday.
Family members identified one of the victims as JoAnn Marie Kesler, 68, of Fort Collins, who died Sunday.
Two Pueblo County women, ages 83 and 84, died last week, said Jane Anne Hollandsworth of the Pueblo City-County Health Department. Their names and the dates they died were not released.
Kesler's family didn't know she had West Nile virus until it showed up in blood tests after she died, said her husband, Dr. Kelly Kesler.
"We thought she had pneumonia, a stroke or something," he said.
JoAnn Kesler had multiple sclerosis and was bedridden for two years, her husband said. He said she may have contracted the disease from a mosquito bite while they sat on their deck to watch the sunset over the mountains.
"We had citronella candles, a smoke generator and a $400 super mosquito zapper. We put on all kinds of (insect repellant)," he said. "It wasn't enough, even though we did what we could."
The state's first West Nile victim, Maria Flores, 77, of Greeley, died on Friday. She had been hospitalized July 27 after experiencing headaches, dizziness and nausea, family member said. She suffered from diabetes and leukemia.
Colorado has 111 confirmed human cases and 99 suspected cases, said Cindy Parmenter of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Colorado has more reported cases than any other state, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. State health department epidemiologist John Pape said the death toll could rise.
"We still have about four or five weeks in our mosquito feeding season, and in areas where mosquitoes are feeding and the virus is present, it's going to be transmitted," he said.
Local officials statewide were working to reduce mosquito numbers and urged the public to avoid going outdoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes usually feed, and to wearing insect repellant.
"No matter how good a mosquito control program a community has, you still need to use personal protection," Hollandsworth said.
Nationwide, at least seven people have died from West Nile, including two victims in Texas. Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming are the westernmost states to report human cases of the disease. Of those, only Colorado has had fatalities.
Officials expect the virus to eventually spread to every state.
The nation had a record 4,156 West Nile cases last year, including 284 deaths. The disease is carried by infected birds and spread locally by mosquitoes.
The majority of people bitten by an infected mosquito don't become ill. But the virus can cause flu-like symptoms and a swelling of the brain that can be fatal.
West Nile Virus Overview
The disease first appeared in the United States on the East Coast in 1999. It has slowly traveled West, carried by infected birds and then spread locally by mosquitoes that bite those birds. The mosquitoes can pass the virus to humans and animals, primarily other birds and horses.
In humans, the disease can cause flu-like symptoms and swelling of the brain that can be fatal. Most people bitten by an infected mosquito do not become ill.
Last year, there were a record 4,156 West Nile cases in the United States, including 284 deaths. The Centers for Disease Control said three other deaths have been reported this year: A 68-year-old man and an 85-year-old woman, both from Texas, and an Alabama woman in her 80s.
Culex Tarsalis
Experts are blaming what they describe as a super mosquito for the high number of West Nile cases in Colorado, NEWS4 reports.
It's called culex tarsalis, and it is a common mosquito in this state.
Lab workers say 50 to 60 percent of the mosquitos they trap are the culex mosquitos.
The culex mosquito is only found west of Kansas and experts say it has an amazing ability to transmit West Nile.
"In this mosquito, almost 100 percent of them that ingest the virus will become infectious and able to transmit the virus," state health epidemiologist John Pape told NEWS4.
The state health department says the recent drought, as well as our wet spring, have created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitos.
Teams are spraying pesticides across the state and hoping to prevent the spread of West Nile.
The following information is taken from the Centers for Disease Control Web site.
What Are the Symptoms of West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus affects the central nervous system. Symptoms vary.
No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people who are infected with West Nile Virus will not show any symptoms at all.
Mild Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected will display mild symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms typically last a few days.
Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with West Nile Virus will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
How Does It Spread?
Infected Mosquitoes. Generally, West Nile Virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are West Nile Virus carriers that become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread West Nile Virus to humans and other animals when they bite.
Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child. In a very small number of cases, West Nile Virus also has spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from mother to baby.
Not through touching. West Nile Virus is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.
Mosquito Dunks:
Made with natural Bacillus thuringiensis (BT-i), Mosquito dunks or donuts are made from natural BT-i. BT-i is a non-toxic way to deal with mosquitoes.
The mosquito dunk is put into standing water in: bird baths, rain barrels, ponds, ditches, unused swimming pools, tree holes, flower pots, roof gutters or wherever water accumulates. The mosquito dunk slowly releases the mosquito-killing biocontrol agent on the waters surface.
Each mosquito dunk treats 100 sq.ft of water surface regardless of depth. The BT-iI gradually settles in the water where it is eaten by mosquito larvae growing there. Once ingested Bt-i kills 95-100% of the larvae within 24 hours long before they become biting adults. The mosquito dunk will keep on working for 30 days.
Alternate wetting and drying will not reduce their effectiveness. Mosquito dunks contain no poisonous chemicals and are harmless to other living things. They are completely biodegradable and nontoxic to: people, fish or other wildlife.
Buy Mosquito dunks online at the following links:
The Safety ZoneŽ
March Biological
U-Spray
Bat Boxes Growing In Popularity As A Way To Battle Skeeters
Building a bat box might be the solution you're looking for if you are trying to keep the amount of mosquitoes on your property to a minimum.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Web site provides more information about bat boxes.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Web site provides precise instructions for building a bat box.
Bat box information provided courtesy of Randal Herron, Troop 21 in Arvada, Colo
(Copyright 2003 by NEWS4Colorado.com and the Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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