Weld County Zoonoses Newsletter

Learn the latest about animal-borne diseases in Weld County. This includes West Nile Virus, Rabies, Plauge and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.

Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment June 30, 2010 Zoonoses Newsletter (PDF file requires Adobe Acrobat)

Some Highlights:

WEST NILE VIRUS (WNV)
Our contractor, OtterTail Environmental Inc., began adult mosquito surveillance on June 7, 2010, conducting weekly mosquito trapping at 24 locations in the county. In the past week alone, the trapping yielded a total of 27,412 mosquitoes with 1,123 (4%) Culex mosquitoes. To date 24 pools of Culex mosquitoes have been submitted to CDPHE for testing. No mosquito pools have tested positive for WNV.

To avoid West Nile virus, please remember to:

• Use insect repellant for ALL outdoor activities. Use DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, (Follow The Label Directions Carefully).
  
• At Dawn and Dusk dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors and be sure to cover feet and ankles.
  
• DRAIN and EMPTY all containers (toys, kiddy pools, flowerpots, buckets) in your yards because mosquitoes carrying WNV can bite at anytime and anywhere, even in your own yards. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and running freely.
  
• Check your home to make sure all windows and doors have screens and are in good condition. This will reduce the chance of mosquitoes and bats gaining entry into your home.
• For additional information on repellents and on how to protect you and your family around home go to the Colorado Fight the Bite web page.

RABIES
A total of twenty (20) animals from Weld County have been tested for rabies so far in 2010. This includes five (5) bats, nine (9) domestic animals (cat (3), dog (5), cow (1)), two equines and four (4) wild animals (skunks). To date, only one of these animals have tested positive for rabies, a bat.

Bats historically have been the most common carriers of rabies in Weld County. Do not approach or touch bats particularly if they are seen during the day and/or acting strange. If you awake to a bat in your bedroom or find your children or pets alone with a bat, please call WCDPHE at (970) 304-6415 immediately.

The best way to protect your pet animals is to keep them currently vaccinated for rabies. Keep bats out of your home by sealing all openings and keep screens (in good condition) on all doors and windows.

PLAGUE
A total of three (3) animals, (coyote (2), cat) from Weld County have been tested for plague in 2010. None of these animals have tested positive. In Weld County, plague activity is typically identified by citizens who notice a decrease in prairie dog or other rodent activity. WCDPHE personnel will investigate these rodent die-offs for plague activity and submit samples for testing when available.

Cats are particularly susceptible to plague. Infected cats generally have a history of roaming freely in rural or semi-rural settings and/ or may be known as a good hunter. Cats can be involved in transmission to humans either by bringing infected fleas home or by bites, scratches or respiratory droplets (sneezing). Adequate flea control/protection is advised for these cats.

HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME (HPS)
One case of Hantavirus has been reported in 2010 resulting in death. In Weld County, a total of five (5) cases of HPS have been documented since HPS was discovered, including two (2) deaths. An environmental assessment conducted in 1994 on the Pawnee National Grasslands revealed 10% of the rodents captured were infected with the Hantavirus.

Hantavirus is present in the saliva, urine, and feces of infected mice. People are infected by breathing in the virus during direct contact with rodents or from disturbing dust and feces from mice nests or surfaces contaminated with mice droppings or urine. Please remember to follow CLEAN-UP GUIDANCE for safe clean-up of mice nests or surfaces contaminated with mice droppings or urine.