At least one Denver resident has been diagnosed with West Nile virus, according to health officials.
A spokesperson with Denver Public Health said Friday that there was one confirmed case of West Nile virus in Denver and that the patient had been diagnosed at the end of August.
A few hours later, updated data from the state’s health department showed that at least two individuals had been diagnosed with the disease in Denver, and that the number of confirmed cases in Colorado has climbed to 47.
Representatives with Denver Public Health and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment could not immediately be reached for comment Friday evening.
The latest data shows that the number of people diagnosed with West Nile virus this year has increased from the previously reported 25 cases, including 12 in Larimer County, five in Boulder County and five in Weld County, according to the Department of Public Health and Environment.
West Nile virus is commonly spread through mosquito bites and includes flu-like symptoms such as fever, head and body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea and rash.
Those with the disease can also develop severe symptoms, which can be permanent or fatal, such as high fevers, neck stiffness, disorientation, seizures and paralysis, according to Denver Public Health.
Health officials say that to protect yourself from the disease, individuals should use insect repellent and wear long-sleeve shirts and pants. Mosquitoes also breed in standing water, so any container, birdbaths and buckets should be emptied of water.
