A woman over the age of 55 is recovering after lab tests confirmed she was infected with West Nile virus. This is the first human case of West Nile virus in Mesa County this year. The woman was not hospitalized as a result of the illness.
It is believed she was most likely exposed to the virus in Mesa County. On August 15, 2019, Mesa County Public Health sent out information about the first confirmed West Nile activity in mosquitoes.
We know West Nile virus is in Mesa County so it’s critical for residents to take precautions.
The best way to avoid getting West Nile virus is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Take some easy steps to protect yourself:
- Use an EPA-approved insect repellent effective against mosquitoes. Look for one that contains DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, 2-undecanone, or oil of lemon eucalyptus,
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when in areas where mosquitoes are active,
- Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn; this is when mosquitoes are most active,
- Drain and remove sources of standing water on your property.
Earlier this week, there were two confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Delta County.
This summer, MCPH launched the Mosquito Meter, a way for residents to monitor the risk of human West Nile virus infection. Because of the confirmed activity in mosquitoes and now a human case, the meter level is high.
Last year Mesa County had two confirmed human cases of West Nile virus (one in August and one in September).
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 to date | |
| Mesa | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Delta | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
| Montrose | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| Garfield | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |