WICHITA — Kansas health officials say high numbers of mosquitoes known to transmit West Nile virus have been found in traps in Sedgwick County.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Friday that the rise in the number of Culex mosquitoes is likely to be statewide, increasing the risk of a higher number of West Nile virus cases this year.
KDHE says the Culex species isn’t known to transmit Zika virus.
West Nile virus is commonly spread to people through mosquito bites and is not transmitted from person to person.
Cases are most common in the late summer and early fall.
The 57 West Nile virus cases in 2012 were the most since the virus came to Kansas. There were 34 cases in 2015, half of which included hospitalization.
