Animal-Borne Disease (Vector Control)
mosquito larva in various stages of hatching, a raccoon on a balcony of a house, and a skunk in a yard

Animal-Borne Disease Control Program

The Boulder County Public Health Vector Control Program aims to prevent the spread of disease from vectors (animals) to humans.

Weekly Animal-Borne Disease Reporting

Zoonotic Disease Reporting for 2023

Week 36: Sept. 10-16

Rabies

  • One bat and one raccoon were submitted for testing. Both specimens tested negative.
  • Boulder County has had five positive rabies specimens to date: Bat (4), Skunk (1).
  • Statewide, 49 specimens have tested positive for rabies in 2023: Bat (41), Skunk (8).
  • In 2022, 63 specimens tested positive statewide for rabies: Bat (43), Skunk (26).

West Nile Virus

  • Mosquito pool testing and trapping have concluded for the season.
  • Statewide, 213 positive mosquito pools have been recorded: Adams (2), Arapahoe (7), Boulder (45), Delta (3), Denver (5), Jefferson (1), La Plata (1), Larimer (132), Pueblo (2), Weld (15).
  • Nuisance (non-vector) and Culex (vector) mosquito counts were historically high throughout the 2023 season. Peaking in week 29, with 100,000 total mosquitoes caught, 65% being Culex.
  • Nationwide, 1,153 human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been reported. To date, 371 human cases have been reported in Colorado: Adams (29), Alamosa (2), Arapahoe (36), Archuleta (1), Boulder (17), Broomfield (3), Chaffee (4), Crowley (1), Custer (1), Delta (6), Denver (61), Douglas (13), El Paso (25), Elbert (1), Fremont (9), Huerfano (1), Jefferson (28), La Plata (7), Larimer (36), Lincoln (1), Logan (3), Mesa (8), Montezuma (5), Montrose (1), Morgan (8), Otero (2), Prowers (3), Pueblo (16), Saguache (1), Teller (3), Washington (2), Weld (37).

Plague/Tularemia/Hantavirus

  • No specimens were submitted for plague, tularemia or hantavirus.

Animals Tested for Disease in 2023

SpeciesRabiesPlagueTularemiaHantavirus
Bat73000
Skunk2000
Raccon15000
Coyote0000
Fox2000
Cat3000
Dog0000
Squirrel0000
Prairie Dog0000
Rabbit0000
Flea0000
Other0000
Totals95000

Animals Positive for Disease in 2023

SpeciesRabiesPlagueTularemiaHantavirus
Bat4000
Skunk1000
Raccon0000
Coyote0000
Fox0000
Cat0000
Dog0000
Squirrel0000
Prairie Dog0000
Rabbit0000
Flea0000
Other5000

Contact Us


Vector Control Program

Main: 303-441-1564
Submit a question


Location

Boulder
3450 Broadway
Map and Directions
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday

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