Community Health News

What's Happening Now?

Monkeypox Outbreak 

• There are no confirmed cases of monkeypox in Sedgwick County and two cases in Kansas. 
• As of August 9, 2022, there are 9,492 confirmed monkeypox cases in the United States. For more case information, visit CDC's 2022 U.S. Map & Case Count.
• Close contact or sustained skin-to-skin contact including sexual contact with a person with monkeypox or contact with an infected person's items (ex. towels, sheets) are the most significant risk factors in this outbreak.
• Due to limited supplies, the a vaccine for monkeypox is currently available only to people with monkeypox and people who have been exposed to someone with monkeypox. 
• The risk to the general public remains low.

For more information, check out the SCHD fact sheet and the CDC website.

High Risk of West Nile Virus Activity in South Central Kansas, Including Sedgwick County

On July 15, 2022, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issued a high-risk warning for West Nile virus (WNV) infections for south central Kansas, including Sedgwick County. This means there is a high risk that a mosquito bite may contain WNV. The risk is based on the number of Culex species mosquitoes identified, the number of human cases of WNV at this time in previous years, and environmental conditions including above-normal temperatures. Visit the KDHE WNV website for weekly updates on the current WNV risk level in Sedgwick County and other parts of the state.

Most WNV infections occur in the late summer and early fall; so far there are no reported cases of WNV in Kansas in 2022. West Nile virus spreads to people through mosquito bites. The Culex species mosquitoes are the primary vector for WNV in the United States.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites and West Nile virus by following the 3 D's: Drain, Dress, and DEET. 

• Drain: drain or treat standing water around your home and neighborhood. The Sedgwick County Health Department has no-cost larvicidal mosquito dunks available for Sedgwick County residents. Contact the Health Department (316) 660-7343 for more information. 
• Dress: wear long sleeves and pants when outside. 
• DEET: use insect repellant containing DEET. If you do not want to use DEET, there are other alternatives. 

Mosquito surveillance in Sedgwick County began on June 27 and will continue through mid-October 2022. During the most recent week of mosquito surveillance, 37% of mosquitoes trapped were Culex species mosquitoes that can transmit West Nile virus. During this time, the level of mosquitoes is about the same as 2021.

No-cost mosquito dunks are available at the Sedgwick County Health Department. Call 316-660-7300 for more information.

See KDHE’s press release for more information on the high-risk warning.

Notifiable Disease Investigations

Read about the epidemiology (disease investigation) program at the Sedgwick County Health Department