- Kansas Department of Health & Environment
- Bill Graves, Governor
- Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
- Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
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- West Nile Update and Summary
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- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
has confirmed five new cases of West Nile Virus in horses. The following
counties each have one horse infected with the virus: Barton, Pawnee, Reno,
Washington, and Ford. Counties previously determined to have an infected
horse include Cowley, Meade, Rice, Ottawa and Ellsworth. The laboratory
testing for West Nile Virus in Kansas was done at Kansas State University
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The virus is transmitted when a mosquito
bites an infected bird and then bites another animal or human.
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- West Nile Virus has also been found in a mule in Montgomery
County and a mule in Sedgwick County, as well as in a mosquito population
collected from Barton County. Dead bird (crows or jays) surveillance revealed
the virus in birds in eight counties: Douglas, Johnson, McPherson, Republic,
Sedgwick, Shawnee, Reno and Wyandotte.
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- Kansas health officials have been monitoring mosquitos,
birds and horses for several months in anticipation of the disease spreading
into Kansas. Infected birds carry this disease for a short time, but mosquitos
provide the only known method of transmission to animals or humans. People
cannot get the disease from horses or from the birds carrying the virus.
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- West Nile Virus usually causes mild symptoms in humans
but does not generally require medical treatment. In rare cases, patients
with encephalitis may require hospitalization, and death can occur in very
severe cases. Human testing for the disease is generally recommended only
for hospitalized patients with severe symptoms, and medical treatment does
not change for those who test positive. People more than 50 years old are
most susceptible to serious illness as the result of West Nile Virus.
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- In monitoring for West Nile Virus, KDHE works with KSU,
KU, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the Kansas Department
of Animal Health, the USDA, zoos, physicians and veterinarians. Kansas
will continue ongoing monitoring and surveillance, and will provide Kansas
citizens with public health information.
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- West Nile Virus originates from Africa, Asia and Europe.
It was first found in the United States in late summer 1999 in New York
City. Since then, West Nile Virus has spread down the eastern seaboard
and westward. Evidence of the virus has been found in 37 states.
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- Kansas residents can report dead birds and get information
about having birds tested by calling toll free: 866-452-7810. Information
on West Nile Virus and Kansas activities can be found at: <http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/westnilevirus>www.oznet.ksu.edu/westnilevirus
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- Mosquito control and protection is the best defense against
West Nile Virus. KDHE recommends avoiding mosquito contact by wearing long
sleeves and pants and using an insect repellent containing DEET as labeled.
Outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, when mosquitos are most active, should
be avoided. People should check for standing water around their homes and
empty anything holding water such as tires, buckets, plant saucers or discarded
containers to minimize mosquito egg laying habitat.
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