Durango - The plague and hantavirus? (Denver, Grand Junction: scorpions, school, university)

[abcde]

Durango (or rather, the outskirts) seem like the ideal place that appears to have many positives for a relocation there. However, in researching, I'm finding a real concern about the plague and hantavirus dangers, especially since we will have outbuildings such a barns, etc. In addition, there is west nile virus mentioned in a very informative website:

http://www.sjbhd.org/health_topics/index.asp (broken link)

Where I live now, the biggest threat (to humans) is a centipede bite, and that is not really a big deal. I have already asked about mountain lions and bears, and I'm sure there are scorpions, snakes and spiders. Did I miss anything else in the way of potentially dangerous animal related threats to humans? (Threats to pets would be appreciated too..)

[COflower]

Hanta virus and plague are not common. They recommend that you ensure that you clean out outbuildings and garages with a mask on as well as gloves. It's not very common for either though.

I live on the Front Range and plague is detected about twice a year around here and have only heard of one person dying from the plague in all my 38 years of living here - all my life (that would be locally).

I have lived in Grand Junction and the most serious issue was from drowning in either the CO river or in the canals that go through the city and outlying areas.

Disease risk is probably less here than most places because of the lack of moisture. Durango is safe as anywhere.

Heck, I think people that live in CO have more of a risk of being biten by a rattlesnake than they would from getting hanta virus or plague.

[abcde]

Well that is good news, COflower. I guess I was being overly cautious because I understand the 4 corners area is where the hantavirus started or was first discovered.

Does anyone have to give their dogs heartworm medication?

[michinmich]

Are there a lot of mosquitos in CO? My horse is allergic to them.

[BlueWillowPlate]

I think Coflower's advice is spot on.

I moved from Colorado to Florida, and the difference in mosquitoes has been interesting.
There are more mosquitoes here than in Colorado, but they seem so slow and lazy compared to the vicious skeeters in Colorado. The bites are not nearly as bad here. I can only assume that the ones in Denver were hungrier?
I did hear of a horse getting Nile disease, but it recovered. Colorado State University's veterinary school is top notch and always has the latest information as well as treatment.

In Denver, we gave our dogs heartworm meds from May through November, then took a break over the winter.

[abcde]

Originally Posted by cil

I think Coflower's advice is spot on.

I moved from Colorado to Florida, and the difference in mosquitoes has been interesting.
There are more mosquitoes here than in Colorado, but they seem so slow and lazy compared to the vicious skeeters in Colorado. The bites are not nearly as bad here. I can only assume that the ones in Denver were hungrier?
I did hear of a horse getting Nile disease, but it recovered. Colorado State University's veterinary school is top notch and always has the latest information as well as treatment.

In Denver, we gave our dogs heartworm meds from May through November, then took a break over the winter.

Glad to hear that the horse recovered from West Nile virus. Even though we don't have wnv here where I live, I give my horse the vaccine just in case it does happen to show up someday. Maybe someday, the wnv vaccine will be available for humans, cats and/or dogs.

[abcde]

Originally Posted by michinmich

Are there a lot of mosquitos in CO? My horse is allergic to them.

Michinmich,

Did you see this map? Maybe it will help you. It looks current, but only reports mosquito infections - I'm assuming a horse vaccinated for wnv, that got bit and did not contract the disease would not be reported. But it is still an mosquito bite incident.

http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_us_mosquito.html

For CO specifically:

http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_co_mosquito.html

[COflower]

Hanta virus was discovered in the Four Corners area but it's not a normal thing. They have found it close to the Front Range too and warn us every year to just be cautious if there are rodent droppings. It specifically comes from deer mice which I believe their habitat to be mostly southern Colorado and into New Mexico.

As for mosquitos, it depends on where you are. Of course living near water that stands (low ponds, barrels of unclean water, tires left out in the rain, etc...) stagnant is common. Typically they come out mostly in the late summer when it's been drier and streams or ponds start to dry up.

I don't recall hearing about but one person in the state (maybe two) that came down with West Nile this year and I am not sure about the equine population. The person(s) that got West Nile were older. Simple use of DEET at dusk and dawn and people should be fine.