KDHE Announces Third Human Case of West Nile Virus in 2005 -

Case is in Johnson County

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced the state's third human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) of 2005. A 28-year-old Johnson County resident had onset of symptoms in July, was not hospitalized, and survived. Final testing needed to confirm the diagnosis was just completed. Additional identifying information regarding the individual will not be released due to patient confidentiality issues.

In addition, six positive mosquito pools have now been confirmed in Barton County, one in Mitchell County, and two in Wallace County. Previously, KDHE had identified two probable human cases - one in Douglas County and one in Rice County, and confirmed a WNV-positive mosquito pool in Trego County, as well as a horse in Anderson County.

So far this year, KDHE has confirmed the presence of the virus in Anderson, Barton, Douglas, Johnson, Mitchell, Rice, Trego and Wallace Counties. Although these are the counties where the virus has been detected in 2005, it is considered to be present throughout Kansas. August and September have been the peak months of infection in Kansas.

"This case reminds us how important it is to reduce our chances of becoming infected with West Nile Virus," said Dr. Gail Hansen, State Epidemiologist. "Wear insect repellent when outdoors, limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, and drain standing water where possible or use a larvicide."

West Nile Virus is primarily a disease of birds, spread by infected mosquitoes to people, but it is not contagious from person to person.

Symptoms range from mild (slight headache and low grade fever) to extreme (neurological disease - swelling of the brain or brain tissue) and in rare cases, death. Most people have no symptoms. Once a person contracts WNV, they are immune to it.

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. Since the symptoms are not specific to WNV, only special laboratory tests can confirm a diagnosis of WNV.

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

KDHE recommends the following to reduce the risk of WNV:

• Use an insect repellent on the skin. In addition to those that contain DEET, repellants containing Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are effective in repelling mosquitoes. The label directions for all repellants should be closely followed.
• 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

"Kansans should take precautions now to protect themselves and their families," said KDHE Director of Health, Howard Rodenberg, M.D., M.P.H. Human cases in Kansas typically appear in mid summer, then increase through the late summer months and early fall months.

Surveillance Activity Changes: KDHE has enhanced its surveillance process by increasing the number of mosquito collection and testing sites to 15 this year. Mosquito collections and testing are underway around the state and have proven a more reliable surveillance tool than dead bird testing in Kansas. Some of the mosquitoes found in Kansas that spread WNV are just as likely to bite a person as they are to bite a bird or a horse, and additional mosquito testing this year should provide Kansas with better information regarding the spread of the virus in the state.

Birds will no longer be tested for WNV in Kansas and KDHE will not be collecting information about dead birds. If a dead bird is found, KDHE recommends you wear gloves, place it in a plastic bag, and dispose of it in the garbage.

2004 WNV Cases: In 2004, there were nine confirmed WNV cases of neuroinvasive disease and 37 probable cases of WNV (including both neuroinvasive and non-neuroinvasive cases) reported to KDHE. There were two deaths in Kansas due to WNV in 2004. Researchers are trying to determine how often WNV, an emerging infectious disease, results in prolonged illness or death.

Rodenberg urged Kansans to protect themselves and reduce mosquito breeding areas rather than waiting for the virus to be reported in their county or a nearby county. "We should take precautions now regardless of where West Nile Virus is reported, because the fact is, it can be in an area before it is confirmed through test results," Rodenberg stated.

For more information on West Nile Virus, go to www.kdheks.gov/westnile/, or call KDHE's toll-free automated West Nile Virus Information Hotline, (877) 228-2287.

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