More human cases of West Nile in Kansas

Aug 21 2004

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has 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:

• Sedwick 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 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.”