DENVER -- Two additional cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed in Colorado, bringing the state's total number of human cases of the disease to five, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported Thursday.

INTERACTIVE All About West Nile Larvicides May Help Control Virus Discuss: Virus Overblown? Worried About West Nile Virus? Preventive Measures? RESOURCES Colorado Hotline: CO-HELP or 877-462-2911 Fight the Bite Colorado Symptoms CDC Cases By County General Info Insecticide Tips Horse Info

The two new cases involve a 19-year-old female from Pueblo County and an 18 year-old male from Adams County. Neither was hospitalized and both are recovering.

Three previous human cases of West Nile Virus involved a 46-year-old man from Prowers County and a 41-year-old man from Weld County. Both were hospitalized with viral meningitis, were released from the hospital and have recovered.

Colorado's first West Nile Virus case involved a 42-year-old Commerce City man who is recovering and who did not require hospitalization.

John Pape, an epidemiologist with the Department of Public Health and Environment who specializes in animal-related diseases, said, "With the onset of cooler weather, the transmission season in Colorado is over for this year. However, because of the long incubation period and time it takes for testing and confirmation, additional horse cases or another human case may occur this year."

"We had hoped we wouldn't have any human cases in Colorado this year but it is not a surprise," said Pape. "We will now begin planning for next year when the risk of human cases will increase. This is because the virus will be here at the start of mosquito season and have time to build up."