Montrose County Reports First West Nile Virus Death of the Year
Montrose County has reported its first death this year from West Nile Virus, an 83-year-old woman who contracted the illness from a mosquito bite.
Denver, CO, September 9, 2026 — Montrose County has confirmed its first fatality of the year attributed to West Nile Virus (WNV). The deceased is an 83-year-old woman, officials reported.
According to preliminary information, the woman contracted the virus through a mosquito bite. The specific circumstances surrounding the contraction, including the exact dates and location of exposure, were not immediately available.
West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause serious neurological disease or death, although most people infected do not develop any symptoms. Symptoms, when they occur, typically appear between 3 to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and can include fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. In severe cases, the virus can affect the central nervous system, leading to encephalitis or meningitis. The County Health Department urges residents to take precautions against mosquito bites.
The current year marks the first reported death from West Nile Virus in Montrose County. Details regarding the timeline of the woman’s illness or any treatments she may have received were not provided.
Public health officials typically advise individuals to eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed, use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, wear long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, and ensure that window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes.
The name of the deceased has not been released pending family notification.
Story summarized from the original created by James Shreve on kdvr.com, see more information here.
