Although cold and flu season is nearly over, Mesa County Public Health continues to monitor what’s going around during the spring and summer. Several seasonal illnesses occur in the region as people spend more time outside, and that could affect the health of the local work force.

“Our team cares about the health of the community year round,” said Rachel Burmeister, disease surveillance and emergency response manager at MCPH. “Some of the more common illnesses that we see during the spring and the summer may be due to exposures that are associated with that time of year. For example, recreating in water, eating foods that may not be kept cold or coming into contact with animals that spread disease.”

One such disease is West Nile Virus, spread to humans by mosquito bites. Many people infected with the virus don’t realize they have it. Others can develop such symptoms as body aches, fever, headaches and rashes.

There’s no treatment for West Nile Virus, so prevention is crucial. MCPH works closely with the Grand River Mosquito Control District to monitor mosquito activity. Most human cases of West Nile Virus are reported in August and September, when mosquito activity peaks. We expect there to be more mosquitoes this year because of the amount of precipitation the area received over the winter.

Looking back, 2022 was a severe year for West Nile Virus in Colorado. Mesa County had four cases of the virus. But surrounding counties reported the highest rates in the state. Statewide, 20 people died from the virus.

Another disease to keep in mind this time of year, especially if you’re doing spring cleaning at work or home, is hantavirus. This virus is carried primarily by deer mice, which can be found in Mesa County. People can become infected by inhaling airborne particles of the virus. The disease is rare, but can be dangerous for those who’re afflicted. Between 1993 and 2021, there were 119 confirmed hantavirus cases in Colorado. Out of those cases, 41 were fatal. During this same span, there were three cases in Mesa County.

As employees spend more time outside this summer, they could be more likely to come in contact with wild animals. In Mesa County, the number of animal bites has increased over the past year.

MCPH works with Mesa County Animal Services to follow up on these reports when there’s a concern of rabies exposure. Most bites involve cats or dogs, but we also receive reports of people bitten by bats, coyotes, raccoons and other wildlife.

Animal bites are reportable in Colorado because of the concern of people being exposed to rabies. Rabies is fatal once symptoms develop, so people who are bitten by wild animals should get a post-exposure vaccine.

With most seasonal illnesses, employees and their families can take steps to avoid getting sick.

“Prevention is key when it comes to keeping people safe and healthy heading into summer,” Burmeister said.

Visit the website at https://health.mesacounty.us for tips for staying safe and healthy. By empowering employees with resources about these seasonal illnesses and how to prevent them, we can all work together to promote a healthy summer.

Sarah Gray is a communication specialist with Mesa County Public Health. For additional information, call (970) 248-6900 or visit https://health.mesacounty.us.