Weekly Update on West Nile Virus in Kansas
80 KDHE confirmed cases, 545 presumptive positive commercial lab cases

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Laboratory (DHEL) has confirmed two additional human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) encephalitis or meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in the state. This brings the reported, confirmed case total to 80. The most recently confirmed cases include:

55 year old from Harvey County with onset of symptoms 10/1
40 year old from Marshall County with onset of symptoms 8/19

From commercial labs, KDHE has now received reports of 545 people in Kansas of unverified, presumptive positive WNV infection. This is up from 505 as of October 10th.

The number of confirmed deaths is remains three, and the number of presumptive deaths remains two.

West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans when a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a human. Symptoms of West Nile Virus can include headache, low-grade fever, and muscle aches, but in rare cases can result in serious illness causing swelling of the brain (encephalitis), swelling of the covering of the brain (meningitis), paralysis, or death. It is estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile Virus will develop a more severe form of the disease.

To date, the presence of West Nile Virus has been confirmed in 88 Kansas counties. There have been 141 birds, 72 horses and 39 mosquito pools that have tested positive for WNV in Kansas so far this year as well.

KDHE recommends that everyone in Kansas take the following precautions to reduce their risk of contracting WNV:

• Use insect repellent containing DEET (according to label directions);
• Limit outdoor activities during dawn/dusk when mosquitos are most active;
• Wear protective clothing when outdoors whenever practical;
• Eliminate any stagnant pools of water on your property;
• Repair screens or other areas of your home where mosquitos might enter.

Additional information on West Nile Virus may be found at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/westnilevirus

Back to KDHE News Release Index