KDHE Home - News 2002 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
August 26, 2002
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
West Nile Virus has now been found in 28 Kansas counties, with the most recent cases involving a horse in Norton, Pratt, and Jefferson counties. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has also received confirmation of new cases in Barton, Johnson, Comanche and Montgomery, all of which involved birds.
The laboratory testing for West Nile Virus in Kansas is being done at Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The disease is transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites another animal or horses. Infected birds carry this disease for a short time, but mosquitos provide the only known method of transmission to animals or humans. People cannot get the disease from horses or from the birds carrying the virus.
West Nile Virus has previously been found in horses in Barton, Comanche, Cowley, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Ford, Jewell, Meade, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Ottawa, Seward, Stafford, Wallace, and Washington. Mules have been infected in Montgomery and Sedgwick Counties, and a mosquito pool tested positive in Barton County. Dead bird surveillance revealed the virus in eight counties: Douglas, Johnson, McPherson, Republic, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Reno, and Wyandotte.
In humans, West Nile Virus usually causes mild symptoms but does not generally require medical treatment. In rare cases, patients with encephalitis may require hospitalization, and death can occur in very severe cases. Human testing for the disease is generally recommended only for hospitalized patients with severe symptoms, and medical treatment does not change for those who test positive. People more than 50 years old are most susceptible to serious illness as the result of West Nile Virus.
In monitoring for West Nile Virus, KDHE works with KSU, KU, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the Kansas Department of Animal Health, the USDA, zoos, physicians and veterinarians. Kansas will continue ongoing monitoring and surveillance, and will provide Kansas citizens with public health information.
West Nile Virus originates from Africa, Asia and Europe. It was first found in the United States in late summer 1999 in New York City. Since then, West Nile Virus has spread down the eastern seaboard and westward. Evidence of the virus has been found in 41 states.
Kansas residents can report dead birds and get information about having birds
tested by calling toll free: 866-452-7810 The Dead Bird Hotline
number has changed and an updated number will be provided soon. Information on West Nile
Virus and Kansas activities can be found at: www.oznet.ksu.edu/westnilevirus/.
The University of Kansas Natural History Museum recently posted a Web page
people can access to report dead bird sightings to the Kansas West Nile Virus
Surveillance Program. The Web address is http://nhm.ku.edu/birds/
.
Mosquito control and protection is the best defense against West Nile Virus. KDHE recommends avoiding mosquito contact by wearing long sleeves and pants and using an insect repellent containing DEET. Outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, when mosquitos are most active, should be avoided. People should check for standing water around their homes and empty anything holding water such as tires, buckets, plant saucers or discarded containers to minimize mosquito egg laying habitat. Gutters and down spouts should also be cleaned to prevent a breeding ground for mosquitos.
Kansas Counties where West Nile Virus has been found:
Barton, Comanche, Cowley, Dickinson, Douglas, Ellsworth, Ford, Jefferson, Jewell, Johnson, McPherson, Meade, Montgomery, Norton, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Republic, Reno, Rice, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee, Stafford, Wallace, Washington, and Wyandotte.