West Nile Virus
West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Kansas and the United States. Several species of mosquitoes are responsible for transmission of arboviruses, but Culex species are the primary vector in Kansas and the United States. The risk of acquiring WNV infection depends on various factors including:
- Time of year
- Number and location of infected mosquitoes
- Number of days with sufficient heat
Warm temperatures increase the rate of mosquito larvae development, which increases the mosquito population size. The risk of WNV transmission is lower in the spring, but rises through the early and midsummer months, and usually reaches peak transmission during July, August, and September.