Friday
September 1st - West Nile Mosquito Spraying
Recommended...
The Larimer County Department
of Health and Environment released maps showing
mosquito trap counts for the most recent week
available, trap locations where mosquitoes
have tested positive for West Nile Virus (at any
time during the summer, not just past week), and
the areas recommended for spraying in Fort Collins
and Loveland. The maps are available through
the health department’s West Nile virus
information webpage at http://www.larimer.org/health/cd/westnile.asp
.
According to Jessica Schurich,
manager of the City of Loveland’s mosquito
control program, the City of Loveland has
completed the first of the two recommended
mosquito treatments throughout southeast Loveland
on Wednesday and Thursday, August 30th and 31st.
A second truck-based treatment of the same area is
scheduled for Tuesday, September 5th, weather
permitting. Weather conditions, including
wind, rain and temperature play a significant role
in the effectiveness of spraying.
Since no spraying will be
done over the holiday weekend, the City of Fort
Collins will consider whether or not to spray next
week after reviewing infections rates from this
week.
Numbers of human cases of
West Nile virus in Larimer County jumped from five
as of Friday, Aug 24th to thirteen cases and one
blood donor as of Friday, Sept, 1st. These new
cases probably reflect illnesses that started
about three weeks ago. The state of Wyoming and
counties surrounding Larimer report the same trend
of rising numbers of human cases. In all, 75
human cases have been confirmed to date in
Colorado with one death. Last year at this time,
there were 37 cases of West Nile virus statewide.
The Health Department
strongly recommends that residents not mistake
seeing low number of mosquitoes as meaning there
is low West Nile virus risk.
“Though the total number of
mosquitoes is actually low right now, the
percentage of mosquitoes carrying West Nile is
near the highest since the epidemic of 2003,”
said Mike Doyle, Larimer County’s West Nile
educator. “It’s prudent for
all of us to be extra careful to use preventive
measures against being bit and infected.
Since this is an active holiday weekend,
don’t forget to use an effective repellent,”
Doyle stresses.
Truck-based spraying for
adult mosquitoes was recommended by Dr. Adrienne
LeBailly, director of the Larimer County Health
Department after counts in certain areas exceeded
thresholds adopted by the Board of Health.
For more information about
mosquito populations, repellants and other ways to
minimize mosquito bites, go to www.larimer.org/health.
Or call 498-6752.
