Man Paralyzed By West Nile Virus Wants Cities To Be Proactive

DENVER (CBS4) - Cities across Colorado are spraying mosquito populations to limit the spread of West Nile virus. Some mosquitoes in the Denver area have tested positive for the virus, and the first Colorado case this year was reported on the Western Slope.

With the amount of rain the Front Range has received it's only a matter of time before human cases begin appearing. One man whose life was forever changed by the virus says cities aren't doing enough to prevent it.

Curt Wolff's journey to hopefully walk again one day has been a slow one.

"It'll be three years in August .. I didn't know how long it would take, they didn't think when I came out of the hospital that I would get anything back. So far it's been a great improvement," he said.

In the summer of 2012 he thought he was getting the flu.

"Everything shut down on me except my brain and my heart. Five-and-a-half months later after being at Craig Hospital and some other places I was paralyzed," Wolff said.

All from one mosquito bite. Wolff contracted West Nile virus.

"People are still pretty amazed this can really just happen from West Nile," Wolff said.

After years of therapy he can now move his arms a bit more and is getting core strength back.

"Still can't get up and walk and still can't be myself and wipe my own nose yet. Slowly but surely," he said.

He says he's concerned to see the mosquito populations growing.

"If they have them I do encourage the cities to spray for them," Wolff said.

Last year four people died out of the 118 reported cases. That's the lowest number since 2011. Wolff said he'd like to see more done to eradicate the disease, or even create a vaccine.

But he knows people can do a lot on their part to prevent it as well.

"Wear long sleeves at dusk, make sure you wear mosquito repellent and just do all the things you have to do to protect yourself against mosquitoes. And be aware," said Wolff.

Wolff said what concerns him most is that some cities along the Front Range are waiting until multiple human cases have been reported before making the decision to actually spray for mosquitoes.

He says even one case like his is too many.