Shawnee County at high risk of contracting West Nile virus



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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – You may want to take out your insecticide. State health officials now have two-thirds of the East at high risk of contracting West Nile virus.

Linda Ochs, director of the Shawnee Co. Health Department, spoke to the commissioners of the level increase at Wednesday's meeting. She added that mosquito surveillance has detected more West Nile virus-infected insects in the county.

Ochs said the high risk was not unusual and so far, they have not seen any human cases reported, but you must take precautions.

"Discard stagnant water, if you have it in your garden or in your home," said Ochs. "Make sure to stay indoors at dawn and dusk.This is the time when they really like to be outdoors and bite." Wear an EPA approved insect repellent with DEETS or another chemical approved by the EPA. "

Ochs said West Nile started with fever, headaches, diarrhea and rashes. However, not all show symptoms. One in every 100 suffers from swelling of the brain.

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