Weekly Update of West Nile Virus Cases in Kansas
Positive WNV Cases Now in 16 Counties

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in 6 additional counties in the state. This brings the total to 16 counties which have a confirmed case of WNV, in either a bird, mosquito pool or horse. No human cases of West Nile Virus encephalitis/meningitis have been reported this year in Kansas.

WNV positive cases reported this week:

• Comanche County --1 bluejay
• Ellis County --1 bluejay
• Kearny County--1 horse
• Osage County - 1 bluejay
• Saline County - 1 crow
• Woodson County--1 horse
• Previous cases this year have been found in Clay, Crawford, Franklin, Gray, Johnson, Reno, Riley, Russell, Shawnee, and Wichita Counties.

For a complete list of cases of West Nile Virus in Kansas to date in 2003 and 2002 go to: http://www.entomology.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=711.

Public health officials recommend the following precautions to minimize contact with mosquitos and exposure to West Nile Virus:

• Use insect repellent containing DEET (according to label directions);
• Limit outdoor activities during dawn/dusk when mosquitos are most active;
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors whenever practical;
• Eliminate any stagnant pools of water on your property. (Standing, stagnant water is a common habitat for mosquitos).
• Repair screens or other areas of your home where mosquitos might enter.

West Nile Virus is primarily a disease of birds that is transmitted by mosquitos on to other birds, horses and humans. Last year Kansas had 22 human WNV cases with no fatalities, and 794 cases involving horses and mules. More than 300 birds were tested. One hundred three of the 105 Kansas counties reported having WNV in either humans, horses, birds, or mosquitos in 2002.

West Nile Virus can cause severe illness, even death in rare cases. Most people who become infected will never know they were infected, because the disease usually produces no symptoms or health complications in humans.

The symptoms of severe infection (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
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.

KDHE will closely monitor potential cases of West Nile Virus throughout the summer and report cases in humans as well as birds and mosquitos. Kansas State University, through a contract with KDHE, is again conducting testing on horses and limited testing on mosquitos and birds.

A toll-free hotline has been set up for Kansans to report dead birds at 1-866-452-7810. The Dead Bird Hotline number has changed and an updated number will be provided soon.

Criteria for birds accepted for testing is as follows:

• crow, bluejay, magpie, or bird of prey (hawks, owls, eagles)
• bird should not have been dead longer than 24 hours
• bird should be intact and should be placed in double plastic bag in freezer until submitted

  (Individuals who submit birds for WNV testing will not be given the results by KSU or KDHE.)

No further birds from Johnson, Reno, Russell, or Shawnee counties will be tested for WNV this season, but KDHE encourages continued reporting of dead birds to the hotline.

This year testing for West Nile Virus for people with signs of encephalitis or meningitis will be conducted at the KDHE laboratory in Topeka.

For questions about West Nile Virus in humans, call KDHE at 1-877-427-7317. Physicians, hospitals, and local health departments should report any suspicious cases of encephalitis to KDHE.

Additional information on West Nile Virus may be found at http://www.entomology.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=711.

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