EL PASO COUNTY, COLO. -- El Paso County's first case of West Nile virus has been confirmed, according to El Paso County Public Health officials.
Officials said the patient is someone who was previously healthy and has been hospitalized after developing symptoms in late August.
“It’s important that people take action to protect themselves from potentially serious illness associated with West Nile virus," Dr. Leston, Medical Director for the health department, said. "Individuals who cannot avoid being outside during dawn and dusk need to take greater precautions to prevent mosquito bites."
The virus, which can affect any age group, is caused by mosquito bites and can last 2-14 days. The three phases (fever, meningitis and encephalitis) are all serious, and the last two can lead to long-term illness, disability and death.
Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, neck stiffness, skin rash and muscle weakness. Officials advise everybody to wear insect repellant and try to avoid being outside at night, as mosquitoes are more active them.
West Nile was first found in the county in 2002 and found in humans for the first time in 2003.
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