Mesa County Pond Tests Positive for West Nile Virus

One pond in Mesa County has tested positive for West Nile Virus. This comes as a bit of a surprise to those who thought the season was coming to the end and Western Colorado was just about "out of the woods" with this concern.

According to KKCO 11 News, Colorado has seen six documented cases of humans contracting West Nile so far this year. Fortunately, none of these have been in Mesa County.

How do they determine where West Nile exists? According to WesternSlopeNow.com, The Grand River Mosquito Control District and Mesa County Public Health have set a total of five mosquito traps over a five-mile radius of Grand Junction. These traps are tested every week.

How do you know if you have West Nile? Some people don't. Most infected with West Nile Virus do not show symptoms. Roughly 20% of those infected develop a fever along with other symptoms. For the lucky few, which unfortunately included me a few years ago, a serious and potentially fatal illness develops.

Speaking as someone who has experienced the joys of West Nile, I'm here to tell you, it's NO FUN!  To avoid catching West Nile, you're encouraged to wear long sleeves and pants. Repellent really does prove effective, too.

Don't retire that mosquito repellent just yet. Yes, summer is winding down, but if you've walked a trail around the area lately, you've encountered your fair share of mosquitoes. Please take precaution, and let's all end the summer on a high note.