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Public Health and Environment Division

Zoonosis / Vector Program (Animal-related diseases)

Diseases that can be transmitted from animal to human are tracked and monitored by Environmental Health staff.  Examples of diseases that spread through animal vectors include Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, Rabies, the Plague, and West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus

With summer here and many folks spending time outside, Broomfield's Public Health and Environment Division is putting extra emphasis on the prevention of West Nile Virus.  The City and County of Broomfield contracts with Colorado Mosquito Control to reduce the population of mosquitoes in Broomfield. For additional information about Colorado Mosquito Control, please visit their website at http://www.comosquitocontrol.com/.

Preventing West Nile Virus:

The best way to prevent mosquito-borne disease is to mosquito-proof your home and backyard and prevent mosquito bites.  Wearing appropriate clothing and insect repellant when outdoors can greatly reduce your risk of being bitten.  This is especially important during dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are feeding.  For a complete list of repellants and their effectiveness, please visit www.fightthebitecolorado.com or the Jefferson County Public Health website at http://jeffco.us/health/index.htm.

In addition, residents are also encouraged to check for mosquito breeding sites.  Culex mosquitoes breed in almost any source of standing water, including old tires, irrigated fields, roof gutters, flowerpots, tree holes, or any puddle of water that lasts for more than a few days.  Mosquitoes lay up to 250 eggs at a time in still water, which hatch into adult mosquitoes in as few as 2-3 days.  If standing water is eliminated weekly, many mosquitoes will be kept from breeding in the first place.

Resources available to you:

If you have questions or concerns, the Colorado Help Line (COHELP) is a good resource (877.462.2911).  COHELP is equipped to deal with calls relating to West Nile Virus.  In addition, the Broomfield Public Health and Environment Division can also answer questions (720.887.2220).

The following websites also provide helpful information about West Nile Virus:

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Additional Resources:

Click on the links provided below for information from CDPHE about the following animal-related diseases.