Many Coloradans consider a mosquito bite, a bee sting or a tick found after a hike just a part of enjoying the outdoors but some bites can lead to severe allergic reactions and diseases.

Chris Roundy, medical entomologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said the primary risk of insect-borne diseases in this region comes from mosquitos carrying West Nile virus.

"We've got the right mosquitoes here in Colorado. We have the right birds that introduce the virus. Every year it looks a little bit different. Some years are really bad, some years aren't so bad. But it's always a risk that we want people to be aware of," Roundy explained.

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Most people infected with West Nile do not know it because symptoms are rare. Those with mild illness experience flu-like symptoms and recover completely. Severe illness can come with a high fever, neck stiffness, stupor and disorientation, possibly resulting in hospitalization or death. People who experience difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips or throat, or vomiting after an insect bite or sting should seek immediate medical attention.

Dr. Joydip Roy, market chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic, said prevention is the best defense against bug-related illnesses.

"Number one is cover up. So if you're going out in the woods, you want to wear long sleeves and pants. If you're spending time in grassy, brushy, wooded areas, you want to wear a hat too or sun covering," Roy advised.

Lyme disease from deer ticks can be especially harmful but Roundy says those insects do not currently call Colorado home. Rocky Mountain wood ticks abound in the region’s tall grasses and Roundy stressed it is important to do a full body scan after spending time outdoors. If you find one, you can submit it to Roundy directly via the agency’s website, CDPHE.Colorado.gov. Roundy added the best way to remove a tick is with a pair of tweezers.

"Grab its mouth parts as close to the skin as you can, and just pull out straight and steady," Roundy recommended. "After they've removed the tick, they can actually send it in straight to me. I identify the species of the tick and then let them know what we've found."