1st Case of Human W. Nile Virus in Colorado
Total Cases 1641, Total Deaths 80

Sept. 18, 2002
Jim Erickson, Rocky Mountain News

A 42-year-old Commerce City man became the first Coloradan to contract West Nile virus after he was bitten by mosquitoes during a bird-hunting trip in the northeastern part of the state.

The unidentified man is recovering from a mild, flulike illness known as West Nile fever, said Dr. Ned Calonge, the state's acting chief medical officer.

"Although we thought we had an excellent chance of slipping through this mosquito season without a human case, this is not a surprising event," Calonge said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

The bird hunter was treated by his personal physician and did not require hospitalization.

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