Update on West Nile Virus in Kansas
90 KDHE confirmed cases, 731 presumptive positive commercial lab cases

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Laboratory (DHEL) has confirmed one additional human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) encephalitis or meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in the state. The reported, confirmed case total is 90. The most recently confirmed case includes:

51 year old in Douglas County – onset of symptoms 10/7/03

The number of confirmed deaths is five, and the number of presumptive deaths remains at two. From commercial labs, KDHE has now received reports of 731 people in Kansas with unverified, presumptive positive WNV infection. This is up from 723 people as of October 31.

There have been 142 birds, 82 horses and 45 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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