A wet winter delivered a year of reprieve from water shortages, but also created the perfect conditions for exploding mosquito populations.

Mosquitoes are annoying pests that can spread disease. In Mesa County, the most notable disease transmitted by mosquitoes is West Nile virus.

Most people who contract West Nile Virus won’t experience any symptoms. But one in five people develop symptoms that include fever, headache, muscle and joint aches and rash.

Sometimes, the fatigue and weakness associated with West Nile Virus can last for weeks or months.

Tragically, about one in 150 people that contract West Nile will develop a more serious neuroinvasive form of the disease. These individuals could be hospitalized with life-threatening swelling of the brain and central nervous system.

People of all ages face the same risk of contracting the disease, although incidence of severe disease increases with age.

In Colorado, there have been 193 cases of West Nile virus so far in 2023. About 106 people have required hospitalization and 13 have died. In Mesa County, seven people have tested positive for West Nile virus.

More cases are anticipated in September, typically the month for the highest number of West Nile Virus cases.

People working outdoors or participating in outdoor activities should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn.

Employers can help employees with prevention practices:

Use an insect repellent. Look for one that contains DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, 2- undecanone or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Wear loose-fitting clothing that covers arms and legs.

Drain and remove sources of standing water on business property.

Regularly check window screens to ensure they’re properly placed and intact to avoid mosquitoes getting indoors.

Grand River Mosquito Control District (GRMCD) and Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) work to prevent cases of West Nile Virus.

GRMCD provides the essential services of surveillance, inspections and implementing control measures to reduce the spread of mosquito-transmitted diseases. MCPH interviews residents who’ve contracted West Nile to determine where individuals might have contracted the virus, focus surveillance and control measures, inform the public and prevent further illness.

Information is available from the GRMCD and MCPH websites. The GRMCD website at www.grmcd.org includes an interactive map of mosquito traps and corresponding data. The MCPH website located at
https://health.mesacounty.us includes a “What’s Going Around” page with information about seasonal illnesses and how to prevent them.