West Nile Virus
Denver traps and collects adult mosquitoes at five sites across the city to determine if West Nile Virus (WNV) is present in local mosquito populations. The samples are sent for testing to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. These results are used to calculate an index which is used to estimate the level of risk.
Since 2007, adult mosquitoes testing established that WNV will most likely be prevalent within Denver’s adult mosquito populations. It will also be found within the mosquito populations up and down the front range.
What does this mean for you?
While the risk of exposure to WNV is typically low, you should still protect yourself. Mosquitoes remain active within our region through September or until colder nights set in (e.g. 40’s). Anecdotally, while the number of adult mosquitoes generally declines in the latter end of the summer, the percentage of those mosquitoes carrying WNV seems to increase. People should continue using precautions through September.
See “Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites” for more information.
Zika Virus
Zika Virus is most commonly spread to people through mosquito bites. The mosquito that spreads Zika lives mostly in warm (tropical and subtropical) regions of the world and is not found in Colorado. The risk of Zika coming to Colorado and spreading through mosquito bites is very low.
DDPHE and the Public Health Institute at Denver Health are working closely to monitor the spread of the disease, identify risks and plan for the possibility of a case in the metro area.
Learn more about Zika Virus.