Kansas Reports Two Additional WNV Human Cases
First WNV Horse Case Reported for 2004

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced two additional human cases of West Nile Virus fever (WNV) in the state. A 33-year-old individual from Sedgwick County and a 12-year-old individual from Seward County have been diagnosed with WNV fever (non-neuroinvasive). WNV fever involves milder symptoms that are consistent with WNV, and require special laboratory tests to confirm the presence of WNV.

The first WNV-positive horse (Russell County) was reported from the Kansas State University Veterinary College. In addition, birds from Bourbon, Meade, and McPherson Counties have tested positive for WNV and mosquitoes collected in Atchison and Lyon Counties have tested positive for WNV. There are currently 32 Kansas counties with WNV activity.

Previously announced human cases include:
Johnson Co. - probable case - 19-year-old hospitalized - neuroinvasive WNV
Sedgwick Co. - confirmed case - 46-year-old hospitalized - neuroinvasive WNV
Wyandotte County - probable case - 68 year-old hospitalized - neuroinvasive WNV
Morris County - probable case - 64-year-old - WNV fever (non-neuroinvasive)
Barton County - probable - 43-year-old - WNV fever (non-neuroinvasive)

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

Birds are no longer being tested from the following counties : Barton, Douglas, Edwards, Franklin, Harper, Harvey, Johnson, Kingman, Lyon, McPherson, Morris, Pratt, Reno, Saline, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee and Wyandotte Counties.

"Since we are in the most active part of the West Nile Virus season, Kansans 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."

KDHE recommends the following to reduce the risk of WNV:

• Use insect repellent with DEET and when practical, wear protective clothing
• 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.

KDHE reminds physicians to report WNV cases to the state by calling 1-877-427-7317.

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.

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