The current risk level in Kansas for West Nile Virus is “moderate.”
The Department of Health & Environment wants you to be aware mosquito populations have increased due to recent flooding. Mosquitos are most active at dawn and dusk. Wearing long sleeves and pants plus using insect repellant is helpful.
Mosquitoes can be repelled with DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus. One way to keep your family safe is to dump standing water from your yard.
The Department of Health & Environment says 35 Kansans have died from West Nile Virus since 2002.
Check out the current risk level for West Nile Virus in Kansas at the KDHE website.
KDHE recommends the following precautions to protect against West Nile virus:
- When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient on skin and clothing, including DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Follow the directions on the package.
- Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
- The elderly or immunocompromised should consider limiting their exposure outside during dusk and dawn when the Culex species mosquitos are most active.
- Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
- Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets, and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.
