After a record year for mosquitos in 2023, experts are closely monitoring numbers in 2024.
DENVER — Health experts are urging Coloradans to take precautions after the state'sIt follows a record year for West Nile cases in Colorado, with 634 total cases reported. That's more than the previous four years combined.One of those patients was Doug Pfluger, a Denver man who believes he was bit in his backyard.
“I was fine one day working in the garage and the backyard, and that night, I was laying on the floor,” he said. Pfluger has multiple sclerosis but says he never had any serious complications until contracting West Nile virus.“They told me to expect six months to a year to really start to being close to a full recovery, and I don’t know if I’m going to make it by August. It’s still pretty tough,” he said. “I was basically paralyzed. I couldn’t move my fingers, toes, anything, and that was really dark.”
While cases like Pfluger's remain rare, the spike in serious cases in 2023 has some concerned about what 2024 could have in store.Hancock, known affectionately as the"mosquito man," has been capturing and studying Colorado mosquitos for decades.“We had a lot of mosquitos last year, record numbers, and that means we had record numbers of mosquitos going into hibernation,” he said. “So, it’s probable that we’re having record mosquitos coming out of hibernacula, and here we are.
“I’ve heard that this year’s going to be worse than last year, so I wish everybody luck, and hopefully, not too many people have to go through it like I did.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Colorado State Football & Colorado Buffaloes Set Kickoff Time For 2024 RematchThe two square off in Fort Collins on September 14
Read more »
Colorado’s first West Nile virus case of 2024 confirmed in early start to seasonTypically, Colorado doesn’t see its first West Nile cases until July, and they take off in August. Mosquito activity increases when days are hot and nights stay relatively warm.
Read more »
Colorado’s first human case of West Nile virus in 2024 detected in Arapahoe CountyRobert Garrison is a Colorado native who grew up in Montrose and attended Colorado Mesa University. He is an AP award-winning journalist who joined Denver7 in August 2016 after working in CO and OK.
Read more »
Colorado has its first confirmed West Nile virus case of 2024Psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar offers tips for combatting a negative body image.
Read more »
UEFA Euro 2024 Bracket: Follow Our 2024 BracketDownload our UEFA Euro 2024 Bracket to make your picks before the next stage of the tournament begins.
Read more »
2024 Wildcard: Trump criminal trial verdict throws 2024 presidential election into uncharted watersFormer President Donald Trump's conviction in his historic trial in New York City is thrusting his 2024 election rematch with President Biden into uncharted grounds.
Read more »