The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a high-risk warning for West Nile Virus for all regions of the state except the southeast, which has a moderate risk.
State health officials said 22 human cases of the virus have been reported this year, including 17 neuroinvasive cases and three deaths. There have been seven cases reported in horses in Barber, Butler, Ford, Pratt and Douglas counties.
The virus is carried by mosquitoes and can infect humans, horses, birds and other species, and most infections occur in late summer and early fall.
Most people infected with the virus will not feel sick, but about one in five people who are infected will develop a fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 people will develop neuroinvasive disease, which includes swelling of the brain and/or brain tissue and, in some cases, death.
KDHE recommends the use of insect repellents that contain DEET or other EPA-approved repellents for people who are outdoors. Kansas residents are also urged to eliminate sources of standing water, which are breeding sites for mosquitoes.
