HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 08/06/2024 - Memorandum from Ryan Vincent re: West Nile Virus (WNV) – Weekly UpdateNatural Areas Department
1745 Hoffman Mill Road
PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522
970-416-2493
rvincent@fcgov.com
CC: Dean Klingner, Community Services Director; Mike Calhoon, Parks Director; Katie Donahue, Natural Areas
Director
MEMORANDUM
Date: July 30, 2024
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
From: Ryan Vincent, Natural Areas Sr. Supervisor
Subject: West Nile Virus (WNV) – Weekly Update
SUMMARY
WNV activity, measured as a vector index, remains low and no adult mosquito spraying is
recommended at this time. Vector indexes are currently below average in all quadrants of the
city.
WVN-positive mosquitoes were detected in two of the City of Fort Collins’ 53 traps. Both positive
traps were located in the SE quadrant. For comparison, in 2023 during this time period, there
were 22 positive traps.
The abundance of mosquitos that can carry and spread WNV, Culex tarsalis and pipiens, is also
below average for this time of the year in all quadrants.
This continues the series of weekly memos providing up-to-date information on the level of
WNV found in the community and information about mosquito spraying.
PROCESS FOR SPRAY RECOMMENDATIONS
The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE) will recommend spraying
for adult mosquitos when the vector index from a minimum of five adjacent traps exceeds the
policy threshold of 0.75. City staff will notify Council before any public announcements
concerning adult mosquito treatments are issued. If the LCDHE makes a recommendation to
spray, communication will take place through email and text notifications to those who have
opted in to receive them, as well as broad communication through the City’s various external
communication channels. Community members can sign up for alerts through nocoalert.org.
Docusign Envelope ID: 1FAA4346-2E30-4263-A1DE-66821FC20CBE
CURRENT VECTOR INDEX
The floating zone with the highest current vector index was located between Lemay Avenue and
Strauss Cabin Road, and between Harmony and Trilby roads in the southeast quadrant.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• There have been seven human cases of WNV reported in Colorado as of July 29; none
in Larimer County.
• Preventative WNV management actions are in full swing with larval treatments, trapping,
and testing.
• Public outreach is underway including social media posts, utility bill inserts, and other
advertising. Outreach information is centered on the “4Ds” messaging, which
encourages people to Drain standing water, Dress in long pants and sleeves to deter
biting, Defend with EPA-approved repellant, and avoid the high mosquito activity time
between Dusk & Dawn. Messaging also encourages community members to opt in to
receive notification about any future spray events.
• Vector Disease International (VDCI) is not planning to spray any HOAs this week for
nuisance mosquitos.
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Week No: 30 Vector Index
Threshold:
Previous Week Vector
Index:
Current Vector
Index:
FC – Zone NW NA 0.00 0.00
FC – Zone NE NA 0.24 0.00
FC – Zone SE NA 0.07 0.10
FC – Zone SW NA 0.00 0.00
FC – Citywide NA 0.08 0.04
Floating Zone 0.75 0.42 0.34
Docusign Envelope ID: 1FAA4346-2E30-4263-A1DE-66821FC20CBE