Update on West Nile Virus in Kansas
88 KDHE confirmed cases, 719 presumptive positive commercial lab cases

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Laboratory (DHEL) has confirmed six 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 88. The most recently confirmed cases include:

16 year old in Mitchell County – onset of symptoms 8/7/03
38 year old in Johnson County – onset 9/19/03
46 year old in Wyandotte County – onset 9/24/03
66 year old in Saline County – onset 9/25/03
75 year old in Seward County – onset 9/27/03
66 year old in Sedgwick County – onset 10/3/03

From commercial labs, KDHE has now received reports of 719 people in Kansas with unverified, presumptive positive WNV infection. This is up from 545 as of October 17th.

The number of confirmed deaths is five, and the number of presumptive deaths remains at two. Due to conflicting data, KDHE reported on October 21, 2003, that the age of a Pawnee County resident who died in September as 84. After further research, it was determined that the age of the person, who had onset of symptoms on August 16, 2003, was actually 94.

There have been 142 birds, 75 horses and 39 mosquito pools that have tested positive for WNV in Kansas so far this year as well.

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.
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

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