First Case of West Nile

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
1555 N. 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Web: http://www.co.weld.co.us/redesign/health/

Our vision: Together with the communities we serve, we are working to make Weld County a healthy place to live, learn, work and play.

News Release

Contact: Gaye Morrison, Public Information Officer
970-304-6470 ext. 2380
gmorrison@co.weld.co.us

For Immediate Release July 2, 2010

FIRST HUMAN CASE OF WEST NILE IN WELD COUNTY

Greeley – The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed today the first human case of West Nile virus in Weld County in 2010. The fifty-three year old female was diagnosed with West Nile fever and is recovering at home. This is also the first confirmed human case of West Nile virus in Colorado in 2010. In 2009, there were 103 human cases of West Nile virus in Colorado with 3 deaths. In Weld County there were a total of 15 cases confirmed last year and no deaths.

Dr. Mark Wallace, Executive Director of the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE), said, “Conditions have been favorable for mosquitoes to breed. Many people have reported mosquitoes being more bothersome this season. It is not unexpected that northern Colorado is where the first case of West Nile virus infection has occurred. We are thankful the person in Weld County is recovering well. Everyone should take precautions – avoid being out at dusk and dawn, wear protective clothing, apply appropriate repellant when outside, repair holes in window screens, and reduce the amount of standing water around your home. West Nile infection can be prevented when precautions are taken.”

Mosquito counts have been rising rapidly in Weld County and have been particularly high in Greeley, Evans, Ft. Lupton and Milliken. The health department began adult mosquito surveillance on June 7, 2010 and conducts weekly mosquito trapping at 24 locations in the county. To date 24 pools of Culex mosquitoes have been submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for testing and none have tested positive for West Nile Virus.

There are several municipalities in Weld County that have mosquito control programs in place, including Dacono, Evans, Erie, Firestone, Fort Lupton, Frederick, Johnstown, Kersey, Keensburg, LaSalle, Lochbuie, Platteville and Windsor. Mosquito control programs differ depending on the municipality but may include trapping, larvacide treatment to prevent mosquito breeding and adulticide or spraying.

Dr. Wallace emphasizes that everyone must take personal precautions against mosquito bites even if there is a mosquito control program where they live. Additional recommendations for protecting yourself and family against mosquito bites include:

• Using approved mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. DEET products generally provide the longest protection. The other repellents work but must be applied more frequently. Follow the product label for correct use. Products with 10 percent or less DEET are recommended for children.
• Spraying clothing with insecticides containing DEET or Permethrin if you are outside for long periods of time. This will last up to four washings or two weeks on clothing. It is important to follow product directions.
• Wearing light weight clothing with long pants and sleeves in addition to repellent when outdoors.
• Getting rid of any standing water that provides breeding places for the mosquitoes.
• Using a larvacide if you have standing water around your home that you cannot drain. Larvacide can be placed directly in water and it kills mosquito larvae before they have a chance to hatch. It comes in a variety of forms, from briquettes to sprays, and many types are nontoxic.

West Nile virus is carried by birds and transmitted by mosquitos that bite the infected birds. Infected mosquitoes transmit the virus to humans, horses, and birds. Everyone is at risk for mosquito born disease. West Nile season in Colorado begins in late June, peaks in July and August, and goes through September.

West Nile virus symptoms may appear in 3 – 14 days after infection. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, muscle aches and weakness and rash. Some individuals may become seriously ill with encephalitis, swelling of the brain, or meningitis, a swelling of the brain’s lining or the spinal cord. Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, vision loss, paralysis and even death. If a person or someone in their family develops symptoms, they should contact their health care provider.

For more information on West Nile virus call the CO Help hotline at 1-877-462-2911 or the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment hotline at 970-304-6420, ext. 2234 for English or ext. 2235 for Spanish. Visit www.FighttheBiteColorado.com. or www.co.weld.co.us.

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.

West Nile Virus

In order to help control the mosquito population, Fort Collins residents are invited to pick up some free minnows for their outdoor ponds. Please check out the Colorado Mosquito Control website for more information.

Zoonotic Disease Update

West Ridge Animal Hospital periodically receives updates from the government regarding community health issues. The following information is from a recent Zoonotic Disease Update to our veterinarians from Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment:

Mosquito-borne Encephalitis
Colorado and Weld County experienced its second most active West nile virus year during 2007. Colorado reported 576 human West Nile cases and deaths. Weld County reported 98 human cases with 0 deaths. We (Weld County) will continue our surveillance efforts for Western Equine Encephalitis, St Louis Encephalitis, and West Nile Virus in 2008. The surveillance program includes dead bird surveillance and testing, mosquito trapping, speciation and testing; Vector Index calculation; and monitoring of equine and human cases.

Weld County requests that any community members with questions regarding dead birds call the Colorado HELP Health Line (COHELP), 1-877-462-2911, established by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

The COHELP Line operators will answer questions; give information on testing or disposal of birds and log information about where dead birds have been found for surveillance purposes. The COHELP Line will also document dead birds for Avian Influenza H5N1 "Bird Flu" surveillance.

Rabies
Rabies virus is still a risk to people and their pets. In Weld County, bats are the only animal to test positive for rabies for decades. During the year 2007, three bats tested positive for rabies in Weld County (two big brown bats and one hoary bat). The bats were found in Frederick, Ault, and Greeley.
Please contact (Weld County) if you know of any human or pet exposure to a bat. A bite does not need to occur for a bat to transmit rabies. Many people and pet animals that are bitten by bats do not feel the bites and do not have bite marks. Each exposure incident is evaluated individually. In all cases, having the bat to submit for rabies testing is very important.
Eastern Colorado saw a resurgence in skunk rabies during 2007 that hasn't been seen since the 1970's. A South Central strain of skunk rabies has been creeping into Colorado from Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. It is expected to move west to the Front Range putting Weld County clearly in its path. Skunk rabies surveillance has been initiated East of I-25 in Colorado. Any "strange acting" skunk, including road kill, is acceptable for testing. Please give (Weld County) a call if you observe skunks in your area acting strangely, overly aggressive, out during the day, and any skunk that has had contact with a human, pet animal or livestock. If we find skunk rabies in Weld County we will be changing post exposure guidelines for pet animals and humans exposed to rabid and potentially rabid animals. Other states that have seen skunk rabies move into their area have also seen a sharp increase in pet animal rabies. We would expect to see the same thing happen in Colorado.

Plague
The Denver Metro are experienced an outbreak of plague activity in their tree squirrel population during 2007. No tree squirrels tested positive for plague in Weld County during 2007. Only four animals, all prairie dogs, tested positive for plague in Weld County during 2007, al lup North on the Pawnee National Grasslands. Residents are encouraged to report dead animals, particularly rodents (prairie dogs, rabbits, tree squirrels, etc.) to the Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment.
(Weld County) monitors prairie dog colonies in Weld County during the summer months for plague activity. (They) have documented plague activity in or around Weld County for many years now.

Anyone who lives near a prairie dog colony is urged to use flea repellent for dogs and cats as they can carry infected fleas home to their owners and family members. Also, please contact the County if you notice a decrease in prairie dog activity.

CDPHE will be posting current and past zoonotic disease information here.

If you are interested in more information, The weld County Environmental Health Services offices can be reached at 970-304-6415.

Bird positive for West Nile Virus

West Ridge Animal Hospital has recently submitted the first West Nile Virus positive bird to the Department of Public Health and Environment. Here is the story as told by Audra, one of our Client Care Representatives:

"On July 10th, a concerned woman on the UNC campus called in saying that she had found a large black bird that appeared to be injured on the campus. She had called animal control and they told her that we may be able to help her. She reported that the bird was holding its wing oddly and didn't seem to want to fly away when she approached. I told her to try to catch the bird and bring it in and we would try to help it. After she got off the phone, she went to get the bird and when she got outside, she found that there was an additional large bird with the first one. When she tried to catch the first bird, it flew off into a tree and seemed to be disoriented. The second bird did not try to fly away when she approached it either so she caught that bird to bring it into us as well. On her way over to our clinic the bird passed away. When it arrived, we called the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment and they came to pick up the bird for West Nile Virus testing. They told me on the phone that they hadn't had any birds yet this year that they could test and that this specimen would be very helpful...

Later that afternoon, we were informed that the second bird was indeed positive for West Nile Virus. In addition, it is the first confirmed case of West Nile in birds for Weld County this year."

As most everyone knows by now, West Nile Virus is transmitted by mosquitoes- most often at dusk and dawn. The disease can cause severe illness, life-altering disabilities and even death. Because we here at West Ridge are dedicated to not only the safety and care of your pets, but also to helping injured wildlife and educating and protecting the public, we send all suspicious birds we treat or find to the Department of Public Health and Environment. We will keep you updated as to other West Nile activity in Weld County. For more information on West Nile Virus, please visit the following links:

Weld County West Nile Virus FAQs

Weld County West Nile Virus Information Page

CDC West Nile Virus Homepage