West Nile Virus (WNV) cases are going up in Kansas because risk factors are still high in most of the state.
On Tuesday, September 10, KSNT 27 News called the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to find out the latest information on WNV cases in the Sunflower State. In July, the department put out a “high-risk warning” for most of the state. Recent signs suggest that the amount of risk won’t be going down for a while.
Philip Harris, a spokesman for KDHE, said that so far in 2024, six cases of WNV have been proven in Kansas. All of these cases have been in humans. The KDHE isn’t keeping an eye on any major outbreaks of the mosquito-borne virus, even though the number of cases is starting to rise.
Two cases in northeast Kansas
Two cases in south central Kansas
Two cases in southwest Kansas
Harris said, “No specific cases are being watched as part of an outbreak.” “As case reports and investigations from local health departments are finished, we do look for signs of outbreaks or places where transmission is higher than usual.”The first two weeks of September 2024 are when most WNV cases are recorded, so KDHE officials are still on high alert. This time of highest spread has not yet arrived, but cases should start going down sharply by the first week of October.
Harris said, “Right now is the most dangerous month for WNV in Kansas.” “So, as you enjoy the last month of summer and start planning activities for fall, keep an eye out for mosquitoes and remember the “3 D’s”: dress, drain, and DEET. This will protect you from West Nile virus and other vector-borne diseases.” When you dress, you wear light-colored clothes that don’t fit too tightly. When it makes sense, you wear long sleeves and pants. Drain means to get rid of any water that is sitting around your house. DEET means to use bug repellent that is approved by the EPA and has DEET in it.
Harris said that the KDHE’s most recent data, like average temperatures and information from the past, show that all of Kansas’s areas except for the southeast region are at high risk for WNV. Every Friday at noon, risk ratings are changed because mosquito numbers and temperatures change.
Harris said, “We’d also like to remind Kansans to be careful about mosquito bites when they travel.” “Every year, people who have traveled outside of the country come back with Dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and/or the Zika virus.” Also, there is a big increase in the Oropouche virus in parts of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This virus can be spread by midges and mosquitoes that bite. So, when you go on a trip, remember to wear protective clothing, drain any water that is sitting there, and use an EPA-approved bug spray!