The El Paso County Health Department monitors more than 70 different diseases that are potentially dangerous, such as West Nile Virus (WNV). The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment collects data on a regular basis, which is used to strategize prevention efforts.The El Paso County Health Department monitors more than 70 different diseases that are potentially dangerous, such as West Nile Virus (WNV). The El Paso County Department of Health and Environment collects data on a regular basis, which is used to strategize prevention efforts.
- There were 114 cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in El Paso County in 2003 (2,947 in Colorado, 6,411 in the United States).
- 79.5 percent of El Paso County WNV cases had West Nile Fever, 10 percent had West Nile Meningitis, and 9.8 percent had West Nile Virus Encephalitis.
- There was one WNV death in El Paso County during the 2003 season (Colorado led the nation in 2003 with 62 West Nile deaths).
- WNV illnesses lasted an average of about 20 days.
- 30 of El Paso County 2003 WNV cases were ill enough to need hospitalization.
- The most commonly seen symptoms were fever, malaise, headache, muscle weakness, stiff neck and changed mental state.
- About 5 percent of our WNV cases experienced flaccid paralysis, and about 2 percent had seizures.
- El Paso County’s 2003 WNV infections affected all age groups.
- Only about 55 percent of people with WNV infection reported being aware of having mosquito bites.
- Almost 56 percent of WNV cases reported that they never used mosquito repellent (about 21 percent used it “sometimes,” and only 10 percent used it “always”)?
- Most of El Paso County’s 2003 WNV cases were reported in August and September (cases ranged from late June to mid-September).
