West Nile Virus (WNV)

Personal protection is the best defense! Mosquitoes don't care if you are outside for two minutes of two hours. Find a repellent that meets your needs and wear if every time you are outside!

Whenever Possible:

• Stay indoors during mosquito "prime-time" which is around dawn and dusk.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
• Use mosquito repellent whenever outdoors, even for short periods.
• Drain areas of standing water (bird baths, kiddie pools, pet dishes, etc. at least weekly).
• Report large areas of standing water Call 1-877-276-4306.
• Don't water your lawn too frequently.

What we learned last year:

• Hardest hit: Colorado had the nation's greatest number of reported cases of WNV, almost 3,000.
• All ages affected: Coloradoans from infant to over 90-years-old were infected by WNV.
• It can be very serious: 622 people required hospitalization for meningitis or encephalitis. Paralysis can occur.
• It can be deadly: 62 Coloradoans died of WNV, 6 in Weld County.