KDHE Home - News 2002 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 11, 2002
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has confirmed a sixth human case of West Nile Virus in the state. The case is a 75 year old Johnson County resident with the onset of symptoms on September 16th. Confirmation tests were done by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Earlier this week, CDC notified KDHE of a positive case in Wyandotte County: a 52 year old with the onset of symptoms on August 12th; three positive cases in Rice County: a 29 year old with onset of symptoms August 16th, a 58 year old with onset of symptoms on August 15th, and a 72 year old with onset of symptoms on August 28th; and a positive case in Shawnee County involving a 28 year old with onset of symptoms on August 30th. All of the patients survived. Only one remains in the hospital.
The Centers for Disease Control is testing human specimens at its laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado. It receives samples from all across the Unites States and because of the tremendous number of cases to be tested, CDC takes several weeks to get the results back to the states. Therefore, it's important to note, this is not an outbreak because the patients were sick at different times and in different locations.
West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a human. It cannot be transmitted from person to person, except in rare cases involving organ transplants and blood transfusions. The illness may cause flu-like symptoms in humans, such as headache, swollen glands, and muscle aches, as well as a rash. Usually West Nile Virus only causes mild disease in humans, but in rare cases the virus may cause swelling of the brain (encephalitis) and even death. People more than 50 years old are most susceptible to serious illness as the result of West Nile Virus.
"We encourage everyone to continue taking precautions to avoid mosquitos, and to remove any standing water from around homes and communities to reduce the mosquito breeding grounds," said Dr. Gail Hansen, Kansas State Public Health Veterinarian. "Because it is late in the mosquito season and the weather is becoming cooler, mosquito populations are declining, which will reduce the risk to humans for mosquito-borne disease."
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 a repellent containing DEET as labeled. Outdoor activities in the evening, should be avoided.
West Nile Virus has been confirmed in birds, horses, mules, or mosquito pools in 99 counties with the newest addition of Woodson County. This involved a horse and brings the total number of horses affected by West Nile Virus in Kansas to 629.