Much of Kansas is currently in a high risk for West Nile virus.
That includes much of central and northwest Kansas, but not Lyon County — which is in a moderate risk, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
CareArc Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Dennis Applegarth says the number of confirmed Kansas cases is low at this time.
So far this year, nothing has been confirmed in Lyon County. Nationwide, there have been 72 cases across 21 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mosquitoes transmit West Nile. The virus can be easily spread during wet periods — as we have had at times this spring and summer — and the peak activity for West Nile is now through September. The virus produces flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and fatigue on the mild side, with tremors, convulsions, vision loss, numbness, paralysis and coma on on the more severe side. Applegarth recommends wearing learing long-sleeved shirts or long pants in the evening hours, dumping any collected water, adjusting your activity schdeule if you have disease-immune issues and make sure to use repellents using the DEET chemical.
Last year, there were almost 70 confirmed cases and four deaths due to West Nile virus in Kansas.
