Elderly woman dies of West Nile

BOULDER, Aug 10, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A 67-year-old woman who died six days after the onset of a fever in Boulder, Colo., was a victim of West Nile virus, health officials confirmed.

The Boulder Daily Camera newspaper Saturday reported the woman died Tuesday showing symptoms of encephalitis brought on by West Nile, which kills about one of every 150 person infected.

Most people who become infected never display any symptoms of the mosquito-borne virus. Of people who do show symptoms, however, about one in 30 will develop meningitis or encephalitis which can be fatal.

Colorado leads the nation this year with 166 cases of West Nile and the latest victim was the fifth state resident to die of the disease, all of them older than 66.

The second year after West Nile comes to a state, the number of cases typically skyrockets. After the second year, cases tend to diminish. Each year will produce new cases until the first frost kills all the mosquitoes.