Human West Nile Virus confirmed in Marion County
There is one confirmed case of West Nile Virus in Marion County, Dr. Don Hodson, M.D., Marion, said Tuesday afternoon.
The case is that of a Marion adult. Hodson said there are two other cases on which "we won't know for another week."
Tests submitted to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment take 10 days to complete and be evaluated before information is received at the point where the patient is.
The turnaround is a "slow process," Hodson said. "There are probably a lot of people out there, including in this county, that have mild cases of the virus — nausea and headaches
Those include symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis.
The risk in the area and statewide will likely be declining now, Hodson said. "Last year the number of cases peaked in late August and early September. The mosquito population is going down now, and by October, it'll be all over (finished)."
The disease is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
Unconfirmed rumors are that there have been two cases in Tampa, one in Hillsboro and another in Durham.
