Mosquito diseases in Kansas: what to know

KANSAS CITY, KS ( KSNT ) – The majority of Kansas is in a high alert for West Nile Virus (WNV). This is a disease some mosquitos carry, and severe cases can result in death.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) shows that nearly 70% of counties are in a high risk warning, including the entire north half and south-central portions of the state.

Dana Hawkinson, an Infectious Disease Physician at The University of Kansas Health System, said the numbers won’t likely dip anytime soon.

“For the last couple years, there has been seriously high or severely high activity of the virus and the disease in Kansas,” Hawkinson said.

Hawkinson said only 25% of people that contract the virus will get a fever. But for others, the results can be much worse.

“One in 150 to 250 people can get severe disease, which is neuroinvasive disease, meaning the virus goes into the spinal fluid and can get into their brain as well. And, so that can cause death,” Hawkinson said.

The prime season for mosquito viruses are from July through September. A major breeding ground for mosquitos is still water. Experts recommend dumping any still water out every two weeks. The main safety tip is to wear insect repellent, especially from dusk to dawn.

Another mosquito-borne illness that’s been making waves around the world is dengue fever. Throughout North and South America, the World Health Organization reported a 232% increase compared with the same date last year.

The majority of cases in the U.S. are a result of tropical travel. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Kansas is just one of eight states without a reported case this year, as of Tuesday, July 23. The other non-infected states are Alaska, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, West Virginia and Wyoming. Florida, New York and Massachusetts lead the 50 states in dengue cases this year.

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