Boulder County sheriff contracts West Nile.
About the only thing positive about the end of summer is that those pesky swarms of mosquitos are also beginning to die out. We all hate those annoying pests, but what's more concerning than an itchy, red welt on multiple spots over your body is the potentially harmful viruses that mosquitos can carry. The main concern has been the Zika virus, as of late, however, we can't forget about another harmful virus: West Nile Virus.
Boulder County has had two confirmed cases of West Nile Virus, with the most recent one being this past Tuesday. Boulder County sheriff, Joe Pelle, made an announcement on his personal Facebook page alerting his family and friends of the recent comeback of the disease in Boulder County.
Pelle makes regular donations to Bonfils Blood Donation Center in Boulder, and when his blood came back irregular, he was alerted that he had West Nile Virus.
They said, 'Hey, um, there's an issue with your blood donation ... It tested positive for West Nile disease,'" Pelle said. "I was surprised because I don't have any symptoms; I feel fine."
Interestingly enough, according to Boulder County Public Health, only one in five people shows physical symptoms of West Nile. According to Marshall Lipps, an environmental health specialist with Boulder County Public Health, "Fortunately, if you don't show any symptoms and it doesn't make you ill ... there's really little to show that there's any long term consequences to that."
Boulder County's public health office is and has been testing mosquito populations in the area. The most dangerous months for West Nile are June through August; therefore, it is recommended that you wear plenty of repellent and long sleeves and pants to protect yourself. If you start to experience extreme fatigue, fever, and/or rashes, contact your doctor immediately.
