Kansas reports its first case of West Nile virus

TOPEKA – State health officials say a man from Republic County has the first reported case of West Nile virus in Kansas this year.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment did not release any more information about the man in a news release Tuesday.

West Nile virus can be spread to people by infected mosquitoes but not from person to person.

Symptoms range from a slight headache and low-grade fever to swelling of the brain and in rare cases, death.

The state had 92 reported cases of West Nile last year. The health department says it is not found a positive mosquito sample in Kansas so far this year.

This story was originally published August 19, 2014 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Kansas reports its first case of West Nile virus."