Tick, mosquito season ‘concerning’ for Pitkin County
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Springtime means tick and mosquito season is starting — a risky time of year in light of a recently confirmed Lyme disease case in Pitkin County and the threat of mosquito-born illnesses looming.
According to Carlyn Porter, emergency response and epidemiology program administrator for Pitkin County, the Lyme disease case was confirmed in the county in April 2023 in a “someone with no travel history.” The county is still unsure how or where the individual became infected in the area.
“It’s concerning,” Porter said. “It’s definitely something to be aware of as we’re heading into peak season.”
She noted that there hasn’t been a confirmed case of Colorado tick fever in “quite a while,” with no cases of tick paralysis reported either.
She did note that the lone star tick is believed to have expanded its range into Colorado, with her finding one in Glenwood Springs a couple years ago. This tick is infamous for its ability to transmit a disease known as alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy.
As for mosquitoes, The Aspen Times previously reported in 2023 that Pitkin County mosquitoes might carry West Nile Virus.
“That’s a super high concern, avoiding mosquito bites,” Porter said.
She also noted that the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a species associated with transmitting several viruses (including dengue, Zika, and yellow fever) was identified in Mesa County last year, although no cases of those viruses have been confirmed. She does note, however, that these mosquitos are easily introduced into new areas through people traveling, are “very hearty and resistant to insecticides,” and can successfully breed up to 10,000 feet in elevation.
Because of resistance to insecticides, Porter said there’s not much Pitkin County can do in terms of mosquito control.
The good news is that she said there’s a lot people can do to prevent both tick and mosquito bites. That includes applying DEET or oil of lemon with eucalyptus — an Environmental Protection Agency-registered alternative to DEET — regularly and wearing long sleeves and pants.
“Just know that outdoor activities come with risks,” she said. “We tend to think the altitude protects us to some degree, but that’s not necessarily true.”
Those who encounter ticks this season can submit them for species identification to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at cdphe.redcap.state.co.us/surveys/?s=3YA7W4C4DMNLWTPC.
