KDHE Home - News 2002 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 27, 2002
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has confirmed six additional human cases of West Nile Virus in the state. This brings the total number of human WNV cases in Kansas to 15 this year. All have survived.
3 cases in Reno County:
- 67 year old, onset 9/1/02
- 43 year old, onset 8/18/02
- 29 year old, onset 8/15/02
1 case in Clay County:
- 83 year old, onset 9/27/02
1 case in Harper County:
- 46 year old, onset 9/28/02
1 case in Ellis County:
- 27 year old, onset 9/24/02
Previously identified and confirmed cases include: three cases in Rice County, two cases in Johnson County, one case in Smith County, one case in Pratt County, one case in Wyandotte County,and one case in Shawnee County. All of the patients survived.
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), severe muscle weakness,
and even death. People more than 50 years old are most susceptible to serious illness as the result
of West Nile Virus.
Through surveillance efforts, KDHE confirmed 793 Kansas horses and mules tested positive for West Nile Virus, as did 170 birds and 21 mosquito pools (from 6 counties).
Mosquito control and protection is the best defense against West Nile Virus. With cold weather, mosquitos will not be a problem, so West Nile Virus is not expected to reappear in Kansas until next summer.-30-