The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in two mules–one in Montgomery County and one in Sedgwick County. The virus was also found in a mosquito population collected from Barton County. The laboratory testing for WNV in Kansas was done at Kansas State University (KSU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Previously WNV was found in dead birds in eight counties and horses in five counties. It has been detected in dead birds (crows or jays) from Douglas, Johnson, McPherson, Republic, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Reno and Wyandotte counties. The disease has been confirmed in five Kansas horses. The horses were from Cowley, Meade, Rice, Ottawa and Ellsworth counties.

Kansas health officials have been monitoring mosquitoes, birds and horses for several months in anticipation of the disease spreading into Kansas.

In monitoring for WNV, KDHE works with KSU, the University of Kansas, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the Kansas Department of Animal Health, the United States Department of Agriculture, zoos, physicians, and veterinarians. Kansas will continue ongoing monitoring and surveillance, and will provide Kansas citizens with public health information