Kansas Reports Second West Nile Virus Death in 2004

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) confirmed the state's second West Nile Virus death today. The victim is an individual over the age of 65 from South Central Kansas. This case is one of the 43 human cases previously reported by KDHE. Additional information about the person's identity will not be released due to patient confidentiality concerns.

"We are saddened to learn of the loss of another Kansan to West Nile Virus," said Gail Hansen, Acting State Epidemiologist. "Our sympathy and thoughts are with the family at this time."

West Nile Virus remains a threat in Kansas despite cooler weather.

"Mosquitoes are still a active until a hard freeze or two," Hansen said. "Everyone should be vigilant about taking precautions to reduce individual contact with mosquitoes and to reduce 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 birdbaths, pet bowls, and wading pools
• Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active

There are now 54 counties with reports of West Nile Virus activity in humans, birds, mosquitoes, or horses.

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.

West Nile Virus has been reported in humans, horses, birds, and, or mosquitoes in the following counties: Atchison, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Clay, Cowley, Dickinson, Douglas, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Franklin, Geary, Graham, Gray, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Jackson, Johnson, Kearny, Kingman, Labette, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Lyon, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Montgomery, Morris, Osborne, Osage, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Sedgwick, Seward, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sumner, Trego, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Wilson and Wyandotte.

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

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