Kansas Reports Probable WNV Human Case in Johnson County

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced an additional probable human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the state. A 19-year old individual from Johnson County was hospitalized from probable neuroinvasive disease. A probable WNV case is one in which the symptoms are consistent with WNV, but not all of the relevant tests are performed or available.

Previously announced human cases include:

Sedgwick County - confirmed case - 46-year old individual hospitalized with WNV neuroinvasive disease.
Wyandotte County - probable case - 68 year old hospitalized with probable neuroinvasive WNV.
Morris County - probable case - 64-year old (not hospitalized) with probable WNV fever (non-neuroinvasive)
Barton County - probable - 43-year old with probable WNV fever (non-neuroinvasive)

KDHE reminds physicians to report West Nile Virus (WNV) cases to the state by calling 1-877-427-7317.

KDHE has confirmed West Nile Virus activity in 26 counties . WNV was previously confirmed in birds in the following counties: Barton, Butler, Chase, Douglas, Edwards, Harper, Harvey, Franklin, Johnson, Kearny, Kingman, Labette, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Osborne, Pratt, Reno, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Wilson, and Wyandotte Counties, and a mosquito pool in Riley and Wallace Counties.

In counties where two reports of WNV have been confirmed, no additional bird testing will be conducted and telephone reports are not needed. Birds are no longer being tested from the following counties: Barton, Butler, Douglas, Edwards, Franklin, Harper, Harvey, Johnson, Kingman, Lyon, Morris, Pratt, Reno, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte Counties.

"With West Nile Virus found in numerous Kansas counties, everyone should be taking precautions including using insect repellent with DEET and draining standing water where possible to reduce the breeding grounds of mosquitoes," said Dr. Gail Hansen, Acting State Epidemiologist. "These actions will help us reduce our chances of becoming infected."

To be prepared against WNV, take personal precautions including use of an insect repellant with DEET, and reducing mosquito breeding grounds.

KDHE recommends the following to reduce the risk of WNV:

• Use insect repellent with DEET and wear protective clothing when practical
• Remove standing water - where mosquitoes breed (i.e. clogged gutters or unused tires)
• Use larvicide in water that cannot be drained or removed
• Change water every three days in bird baths, pet bowls, and wading pools
• Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active

WNV Fever (non-neuroinvasive) cases involve milder symptoms of the illness that may include: fever, headache, rash, general muscle aches and weakness, gastrointestinal signs and inflammation of the lymph nodes with no other likely explanation for the symptoms. Since the symptoms are not specific, only special laboratory tests can confirm a diagnosis of WNV.

Neuroinvasive cases (WNV meningitis, WNV encephalitis, and WNV acute flaccid paralysis) involve more extreme symptoms including severe headache, high fever, difficulty walking and/or talking, coma and even death.

Most healthy people infected with WNV show either no symptoms of illness or only mild symptoms. About 20 percent of those infected show any symptoms, typically seen 3-15 days after the mosquito bite.

WNV is carried by birds and transmitted by mosquitoes that bite the infected birds, which then transmit it to horses and people. WNV is not transmitted by contact with infected people or by direct contact with infected birds or infected horses.

KDHE is asking Kansans who find dead birds to call the West Nile Virus Information Line at 1-877-228-2287 and learn how to submit the bird to Kansas State University for testing. In counties where two reports of WNV have been confirmed, no additional bird testing will be conducted and telephone reports are not needed.

Birds being tested include: crows, blue jays, magpies, or birds of prey (hawks, owls, eagles), and must meet the following criteria for testing:

• Bird should not have been dead longer than 24 hours;
• Bird should be intact and should be placed in double plastic bags in freezer until submitted.

Callers must leave their name and number and will receive a call back with further information on what to do with the dead bird. K-State Extension agents will ship the specimens to a designated testing lab. Test results will not be released to individuals submitting birds, but birds testing positive will be reported on the WNV Web site.

For more information on West Nile Virus, go to www.kdheks.gov/westnile/.

Back to KDHE News Release Index