West Nile virus shows up in Sedgwick County; how to reduce your risk of getting it

Lindsay Smith
·3 min read

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is warning people in south-central Kansas of a high risk of West Nile virus transmission in the area.

According to the Sedgwick County Health Department, two cases of West Nile virus have been identified in the county this year as of Sept. 12., both neuro-invasive. The virus is usually spread through mosquito bites. Multiple species of mosquitoes can carry the virus, but the most common is the Culex species.

Mosquitoes are a common pest in Kansas, including the Culex mosquito, but as the weather cools, their numbers start to decrease.

“If you ask me for the last week, there is definitely a drop in the mosquito numbers. Although if you go on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s [website] ... you may see that the south-central region, where Sedgwick County falls under, there is still a high risk of West Nile virus,” Sonalli Kurlekar, an epidemiologist with the health department, told The Eagle Friday.

That high risk designation means there’s an increased possibility you may be bitten by a mosquito carrying the West Nile virus, Kurlekar said.

The peak season for West Nile virus happens during the months of July, August and September. The virus is the leading mosquito-borne illness in U.S. and Kansas. According to the U.S. Centers for Diesease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 cases of West Nile virus show symptoms, and 1 of about every 150 infected individuals experience serious, sometimes fatal illness.

If symptoms do show, the virus usually causes a fever, headaches and body aches. Some people develop a rash. Severe cases, however, can lead to different symptoms.

“Sometimes [it’s] neuro-invasive ... that can be a headache, meningitis and fever can run into the brain,” Kurlekar said.

Looking at national data, 879 cases have been identified in the U.S. this year as of Sept. 12, and 15 of those cases were in Kansas. According to the CDC, the state with the most West Nile virus cases is Colorado with a reported 243 cases in 2023. California has the second most reported cases this year at 94.

How to lower your risk of West Nile virus

While there are no vaccines or medications to prevent or treat West Nile virus, there are some ways to reduce the risk of contracting it.

First, you should be aware of areas where mosquitoes congregate. Kurlekar said standing water is where mosquitoes usually breed, so that’s one area where bites are extremely common. If you have standing water on your property, dumping it often can help prevent them from breeding.

You should also dress to deter mosquitoes.

“Make sure you’re appropriately wearing long-sleeved shirts, especially if you’re going hiking during the summertime outdoors,” Kurlekar said.

In addition, you should always use insect repellent when going outdoors, she said.

The CDC recommends the use of these insect repellents:

  • DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)

  • Picaridin

  • IR3535d

  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus

  • Para-menthane-diol

  • 2-undecanone

The county health department also recommends people older than 50 and those with compromised immune systems limit outdoor activity during peak mosquito times, which is usually dusk to dawn.