Kansas Is At Risk For West Nile Virus

We’ve got enough issues with extra bugs with all of this rain, but are you aware with the risks associated with how many mosquitoes we have? It’s best to be prepared against mosquitoes because this pesky bug is putting Kansans at risk for something worse than an itchy bite.

The pest that’s spreading disease around these parts is of course, the mosquito. These noisy bloodsuckers not only leave some itchy bites, but can transfer West Nile Virus to anyone they feed from.

Bill Bumgarner/Flickr

Currently, most of Kansas is at a high risk level for the virus, and the rest at a moderate risk. Checking through the last week, we’ve also had high risk in those same moderate risk areas, so you can keep an eye out here at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website.

KDHEKS

West Nile Virus isn’t often terrible for most people, though it affects the immunocompromised and people over 50 more than it does anyone else. There’s no real way to prevent or treat it, but you have about a 1 in 5 chance to develop a fever, and 1 out of 150 chance to develop a serious, sometimes fatal illness.

pingnews.com/Flickr

Other than seeing visible bites, most people don’t have any symptoms of the virus, even if they are infected. Some get fever, body aches, and some nausea, but usually resolve soon enough. Severe symptoms include high fever, disorientation, neck stiffness, convulsions, vision loss, paralysis, and sometimes even coma. It’s rare, but still something to prevent if you can.

Randall van Gurchom-Colijn/Flickr

Of course, insect repellent is one great way for you to make sure those pesky biters stay away from your skin. If they don’t bite you, you can’t get WNV and risk getting the short end of the stick when it comes to symptoms.

Tony Webster/Flickr

Keep and eye out for any odd symptoms you have if you get bitten by mosquitoes this season, and keep everything covered and/or sprayed when you’re out there adventuring.

Oregon State University/Flickr

Make sure to thank your local spiders for their hard work! If you don’t see clouds of mosquitoes, they’re being eaten by the nature around you.

David Hill/Flickr

If you think West Nile Virus is bad, another reason to stay home is this toxic blue-green algae invading Kansas lakes across our state.