West Nile virus season ends

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 9, 2005 by Capital-Journal

34 Kansas counties saw cases of virus

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Kansas Department of Health and Environment

www.kdheks.gov

The Capital-Journal

Twenty-two Kansans contracted the West Nile virus this year, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment records.

KDHE reported Thursday that the 2005 West Nile virus season ended with the recent freezing weather, but not before the virus was found in 34 Kansas counties, including Shawnee, Douglas, Johnson, Marshall, Wyandotte and Wabaunsee.

A death on Oct. 14 in the southwest part of the state was attributed to the virus, according to KDHE.

The first case was reported in mid-May, when a Douglas County man became the first person in the United States to contract the virus. The second case in the state wasn't found until a Rice County man was detected with it in mid-July.

Dr. Howard Rodenberg, state health director at KDHE, said the season was "effectively over" by Dec. 1.

"West Nile virus season continues until mosquitoes become dormant after the earliest frosts and the beginning of cold weather," he said.

He said KDHE usually calls the season over after at least two hard freezes.

KDHE detected positive mosquito pools and horse cases throughout the state, including the northeast Kansas counties of Wabaunsee, Johnson and Marshall.

KDHE reported that about 20 percent of those infected with the virus show symptoms, which typically begin three to 15 days after a mosquito bite.

Most of those infected show no or mild symptoms. Because the symptoms aren't specific to West Nile virus, only laboratory tests can confirm a diagnosis.

Last year in Kansas, 37 residents were believed to have been infected with the virus, two of whom died from it.