Weld County West Nile victims tell their stories

David Young

Jul. 13, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- With the rising temperatures, it is only natural that people will spend more time outdoors this summer. But with the increased exposure to the elements comes a hidden danger in the form of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus.

While Greeley hasn't had any cases of the potentially deadly disease so far this year, the next four weeks are when northern Colorado residents are at the highest risk of getting bitten by a mosquito.

Health officials indicate that as temperatures increase, mosquito populations -- particularly the virus-carrying Culex genus of mosquito -- are expected to pick up. Weld County has not done any spraying this year to combat the mosquito population.

Sara Evans, environmental health manager with the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, said starting this week is the peak transmission season for the virus. From now until the first week of August she expects to see 50 percent of the human West Nile cases reported.

Officials encourage people to take precautions to protect themselves, such as wearing light-colored cloths, using insect repellent and avoiding stagnant water.

Below are several accounts of individuals who lived to tell about their encounter with the West Nile virus:

--*

Ken Imus, 45, of Greeley was in the best shape of his life when he contracted West Nile.

It was the summer of 2003 and while Imus can't remember getting bitten by an infected mosquito, he sure can remember when the symptoms kicked in.

He was at a friend's wedding when his neck and lower back started to get stiff. That was just the beginning; from there he spent a weekend in pain, unaware of what was wrong with him.

"It was pretty excruciating. It was hard to describe," Imus said. "I was rolling around on the floor for three days."

He said the pain was more internal as if his organs were hurting. Eventually Imus, who doesn't go to the doctor often, agreed to his wife's wishes and went in.

At that point his fever had broken and Imus said he felt a lot better, but the doctor diagnosed Imus with a virus, but not West Nile.

It wasn't until later that year that Imus found out he had contracted the potentially deadly disease.

"I feel fortunate in that fact that I was in real good shape when I did get it," said Imus, who can see why the virus can be life-threatening for elderly people.

Today Imus has recovered from the virus, but he recommends people take precautions, especially if younger or older, to protect against the virus that left him in unbearable pain for three days.

--*

Nancy Spaulding, 69, of Windsor went out for a gallon of milk and some cereal in August 2003. Her life changed forever.

Walking into a Safeway (NYSE:SWY) , a mosquito bit her leg. She remembers the bite because it itched for several days, and she typically doesn't get bitten by mosquitoes.

Having just moved from California, Spaulding had never heard of West Nile and was unaware of what was about to change her life.

At 4 a.m. Aug. 28, 2003, Spaulding awoke sick to her stomach, vomiting and shaking. Her husband immediately drove her to Poudre Valley Hospital, where she fell into a coma for eight days due to West Nile encephalitis.

When she came out of the coma, Spaulding couldn't walk, speak and had lost vision in her right eye.

"I was very depressed when I came to because I had been active and suddenly I couldn't do things," Spaulding said.

She immediately went into physical and speech therapy to help regain her mobility and speech. Vision is still limited in her right eye after four laser treatments on lesions on her retina caused by the virus.

"People have no idea that you don't just have a fever and a headache," Spaulding said. "To this day I am limited driving at night."

Since the virus, Spaulding has had to slow down a lot as her immune system was weakened along with her muscles. She also had traumatic brain injury from the virus that leaves her less organized and indecisive today, she said.

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control contacts Spaulding to see how she is doing since contracting the virus. And while she feels lucky to have survived, Spaulding continues to deal with it five years later.

"I just have had a lot of little things that stand in the way," Spaulding said. " But you know what, I just keep plodding on."

--*

Tom Weber, 50, of Greeley was laughing with his then girlfriend when he went into the hospital with West Nile virus encephalitis and meningitis.

That soon changed as he was placed on full life support and his doctors never expected him to live.

The virus started innocent enough with three or four days of fatigue, dizziness, headaches and eventually vomiting.

But on Aug. 29, 2003, when he was admitted to the hospital, he immediately took a turn for the worse. Weber spent 234 days in the hospital with complete paralysis on his right side, heart failure, respiratory failure and a collapsed diaphragm.

"Basically machines kept me alive," said Weber, who will never fully recover. Today his right arm is smaller than his left, his muscles are weak, and he gets fatigued easily.

His first 10 weeks in the hospital, Weber said he was completely incoherent and his only recollection of what he went through, such as a spinal tap, come from reading the piles of medical records.

And while Weber will never be as athletic as he once was, he is still happy that he survived and was able to marry his girlfriend and watch his children grow up.

Weber said he doesn't remember the specific bite, but he used to sit on his back porch, and he expects that's where he contracted the virus.

"It has really impacted my life," Weber said. "I wish I could roll back four years and put on the spray."

West Nile statistics:

Total Cases Total Deaths

2003-Weld 402 6

Colo. 2947 63

2004- Weld 8 0

Colo. 291 4

2005- Weld 17 0

Colo. 106 2

2006- Weld 68 1

Colo. 345 7

2007- Weld 98 0

Colo. 576 7

2008- Weld 0 0

Colo. 2 0

Statistics from www.cdphe.state.co.us

Helpful tips on how to prevent West Nile:

West Nile fever, meningitis, encephalitis or acute flaccid paralysis are spread in humans by mosquitoes. With the rising temperatures in the mid to late summer, mosquitoes are reappearing and the disease may infect people across the country, according to the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment.

To defend against the sometimes fatal disease, avoid exposure to mosquitos and their bites. The incubation period of the disease is 3-14 days after a bite by an infected mosquito. Symptoms, such as fever or headaches, may begin three to four days after the bite. Anyone can get the virus.

Tips to defend against the virus:

--Drain standing water around the house weekly since it's where mosquitoes lay eggs. Typical places where water may collect include tires, cans, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, toys and puddles.

--Dusk and dawn are when mosquitoes that carry the virus are most active, so limit outdoor activities or take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

--DEET is an effective ingredient to look for in insect repellents. Always follow label instructions carefully.

--Dress in long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk or in areas where mosquitoes are active.

--West Nile virus is rare, but if you have symptoms including high fever, severe headache and stiff neck, contact your health care provider immediately.

Source: www.fightthebitecolorado.com

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