'Extremely active this year': KDHE monitors rise in mosquito, tick diseases

TOPEKA (KSNT) - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is warning Kansans of an uptick in tick and mosquito-borne diseases.

The KDHE said these vector-borne diseases are diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. The department said it has received more than 200 laboratory reports of tickborne diseases.

The KDHE said there are several types of tickborne diseases in Kansas. They listed:

• Ehrlichiosis
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• other Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses (SFGR)
• Tularemia
• Heartland Virus
• Bourbon Virus

Of the tickborne diseases identified by the KDHE, Heartland virus and Bourbon virus are considered rare and both have been found in humans and ticks. All of the diseases identified can be transmitted by the Lone Star tick.

“Vector-borne diseases, both those that are transmitted by ticks and those transmitted by mosquitoes are extremely active this year,” Dr. Erin Petro, KDHE State Public Health Veterinarian, said. “I really encourage people to take the risk of vector-borne diseases seriously and take personal protective measures for themselves and their pets to reduce their chance of acquiring an illness from a tick or mosquito bite. We’re also seeing emerging tick-associated conditions, like Alpha-gal syndrome, which can have lifelong consequences for those affected, which is why bite prevention is so important.”

In addition to an uptick in tickborne disease, the KDHE said they've seen an increase in reported cases of West Nile Virus.

The West Nile virus can infect humans, horses, birds and other species. The most common carrier of the virus is the mosquito. Horses infected with the virus can display symptoms of depression, loss of appetite and fever. Other symptoms include severe neurologic signs like incoordination, weakness, inability to rise and hypersensitivity to touch or sound. The virus can be fatal to horses.

You can minimize your chances of contracting a tickborne disease with these steps:

• Wear long pants with socks tucked into pants and long sleeves when doing yard work, hiking, camping or recreating in areas where ticks may be found.
• After being outdoors in tick habitats, take a shower to help wash off unattached ticks and identify any attached ticks. Always perform a thorough tick check after being outdoors.
• Reduce tick habitats in your yard by clearing brush, leaf litter and tall grasses around your home and at the edge of your lawn.
• Apply an EPA-approved repellent, such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, when enjoying the outdoors.
• If hunting or camping, consider treating gear and clothing with permethrin; always follow label directions for safe application of permethrin.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.