TOPEKA (KSNT) – State health officials report that Kansans and livestock may be at increased risk of a virus carried by mosquitos this summer.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reports on its website the entire state has entered a ‘high’ risk category for West Nile Virus (WNV) as of July 25, 2025. The KDHE warns that people in Kansas are at high risk of being bitten by a mosquito carrying WNV based on the number of active mosquitoes in the state.
Jill Bronaugh with the KDHE told 27 News that WNV is the most significant disease carried by mosquitoes in Kansas. She said there are several factors which contribute to a year having a high number of WNV cases such as temperature, precipitation, human behavior and other variables.
“There are times when the entire state is at a high-risk level,” Bronaugh said. “Our risk levels are a model that are based on region-specific variables including average temperature over the previous two weeks, historical human cases, and mosquito surveillance.”
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The KDHE reports that it has recorded two confirmed cases of WNV in state residents so far this year, both classified as neuroinvasive. Bronaugh said neuroinvasive cases are considered more severe and include symptoms like high fever, inflammation of the brain and/or tissue surrounding the brain, disorientation, paralysis or muscle weakness, numbness and vision loss.
“When it comes to West Nile Virus, the old adage, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ really holds true,” Bronaugh said. “Taking those personal protective measures to protect ourselves, our family, and our animals is the best measure we have to guard against West Nile Virus and other vector-borne diseases.”
WNV often impacts humans and horses. Bronaugh said that, to protect people from WNV, the KDHE encourages people to get rid of habitat mosquitoes use to breed. This includes dumping out containers with water such as flower pots, toys, tires and other items.
“For animals, we are primarily concerned with West Nile Virus in horses,” Bronaugh said. “Fortunately, there is a highly effective and safe vaccine that is available for horses, and we encourage horse owners to have their horse vaccinated annually to protect against West Nile Virus. Protecting humans is a bit more complicated. Since we don’t have a vaccine, we have to rely on public health and personal interventions to reduce the risk of infections.”
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Bronaugh also encourages people to use insect repellants approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), dressing with loose-fitting long pants and sleeves and avoiding the outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. You can learn more about WNV on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website by clicking here.
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