KDHE Announces Additional West Nile Virus Cases (Total of 8 in 2006)

Kansans urged to continue prevention efforts

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced four additional human cases of West Nile Virus in the state including a child in Finney County, a 58-year-old Gray County resident, an 84-year-old Johnson County resident, and a 77-year-old Kiowa County resident. The onset of illness for the case in Gray County was not reported. The person was hospitalized. It is unknown if the child in Finney County, whose onset of illness was also not reported, needed hospitalization. The person in Johnson County became ill July 25th and was hospitalized. The individual in Kiowa County became ill July 26, however hospitalization status was not reported. Additional identifying information regarding these individuals will not be released due to patient confidentiality issues.

"It's important that every Kansan take precautions to prevent mosquito bites to reduce the possibility of West Nile Virus infection," said Howard Rodenberg, M.D., M.P.H., Director of KDHE's Division of Health. "Standing water around the home, such as bird baths and unused swimming pools can become a perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes."

West Nile Virus can become very severe and even fatal. A northeast Kansas resident over the age of 65 died after being hospitalized in July. The person also had underlying health conditions. The department also announced two cases of West Nile Virus in Reno County residents, a 72 and a 57 year old. Both were hospitalized. Also, a child in Harvey County, who was not hospitalized, has also been reported. This year's West Nile Virus case total now stands at eight.

West Nile Virus can be spread to people by mosquitoes that first bite an infected bird, but it is not contagious from person to person or directly from birds. 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 considered immune to it.

KDHE recommends Kansans take the following actions to protect themselves and family members:

• Use effective insect repellent with DEET or picaridin on skin
• Wear protective clothing when practical (long sleeves and pants)
• Remove standing water
• Use larvicide in water that cannot be removed
• Replace water in bird baths, pet bowls, and wading pools at least every three days
• Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active

Human cases are most common in the late summer and early fall months. In 2005, KDHE confirmed 25 WNV cases in humans, resulting in one death.

Seventeen other states, including Colorado, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, have each reported at least one human case of West Nile Virus to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of August 1, 2006. Thirty-five states, including Oklahoma and Arkansas, have reported West Nile Virus activity in birds, animals or mosquitoes.

Non-neuroinvasive (WNV fever) 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.

All WNV cases, neuroinvasive and non-neuroinvasive, should be reported to the health department.

A toll-free educational West Nile Virus Hotline is available. The number is 1-877-228-2287. KDHE also has a Web site at www.kdheks.gov/westnile/ to provide information regarding the disease.

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