Elizabeth Evans has painful memories of the summer of 2003. It all started with flu-like symptoms.Evans had first heard about the West Nile virus the previous year, when her draft horse, Sky, came down with the disease. But Evans didn’t realize that a few mosquito bites could cause months of suffering for herself and her husband, Carl.From her home in Fountain, Colo., Evans talked about the impact that West Nile had on their lives. “My symptoms were mild compared to Carl’s,” she said. “In early June, both of us thought we had the flu.” She said she experienced headaches, nausea and severe pain along her spine. She said Carl had a fever and chills, and both felt weak, tired and somewhat disoriented for a number of weeks following the illness.While neither one were tested for West Nile at that time, many neighbors along Fountain Creek experienced similar symptoms and were diagnosed with the virus. Evans said that the old irrigation ditches near their home are a breeding ground for mosquitoes.West Nile was first discovered in 1937.According to the Center for Disease Control, in 1937, a Ugandan woman was the first person to be diagnosed with West Nile. During the 1960s, sporadic cases of the virus were discovered in Europe. The CDC statistics show that 2003 was a watershed year for the disease in Colorado, with 2,947 confirmed cases causing 63 fatalities.John Pape, epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Health, said more than 43 different mosquito species transmit the disease. Those various mosquitoes bite the birds already infected with West Nile and then pass the disease to humans, horses or other mammals when they bite them secondary. The mosquito most responsible for spreading the virus in Colorado breeds rapidly in small pools of water during hot weather. “We do not need a lot of moisture in order to have a bad West Nile season,” Pape said.Evans said her husband became infected for a second time in October 2003. The fever and chills returned, and he began having seizures and was rushed to the hospital, where he tested positive for West Nile. He was treated for dehydration.Getting the message out about preventing West Nile is important to Evans. Once someone contracts the disease, she said there is no specific treatment.Pape confirmed her statement, and added that many people infected with West Nile have a mild reaction that does not require medical attention. But he said, “Some people who have gotten ill never fully recover and will continue to have headaches, fatigue, weakness and what they describe as an inability to concentrate.” Pape also said that Coloradoans who develop encephalitis and meningitis, the most severe complications of West Nile, have a 14 percent mortality rate.According to CDC reports, “In more severe cases, intense supportive therapy is indicated, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, airway management, prevention of secondary infections and good nursing care.””Efforts to create a human vaccine for West Nile are currently under way, but testing procedures may take at least another three years,” Pape said. Meanwhile, he urged everyone to take precautionary measures to avoid mosquito bites.A hotline has been set-up to address questions about West Nile and to provide a mechanism for people to report large die-off of birds, especially crows, jays or magpies. “One dead bird is no cause for alarm, but if you see a number of them in your yard, call the following toll free number: 877-462-2911,” Pape said.Pape said follow the “Fight the Bite” guidelines set forth by the CDC to prevent West Nile:
- Use mosquito repellent.
- Wear long sleeves, pants and socks when outdoors.
- Be aware of peak mosquito hours and stay indoors or take extra precautions during the evening and early morning hours.
- Eliminate mosquito breeding sites by draining all standing water around your home.
- Install or repair window and door screens.
- Support community-based mosquito control programs.
- Report large numbers of dead birds to local authorities at 877-462-2911.
