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Kansas health officials warn that both people and livestock face a higher risk of West Nile Virus (WNV) this summer due to increased mosquito activity.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) raised the state’s WNV risk level to “high” as of July 25, 2025. The warning is based on statewide mosquito surveillance, which shows a sharp rise in the number of mosquitoes capable of carrying the virus.

So far this year, KDHE has confirmed two human cases of WNV in Kansas, both classified as neuroinvasive—the more serious form of the illness. According to KDHE’s Dr. Bronaugh, neuroinvasive cases can involve symptoms such as high fever, brain inflammation, confusion, muscle weakness or paralysis, numbness, and even vision loss.