Rapid assessment of mosquitoes and arbovirus activity after floods in southeastern Kansas, 2007.
A rapid assessment was conducted in July-August 2007 to determine the impact of heavy rains and early summer floods on the mosquitoes and arbovirus activity in 4 southeastern Kansas counties. During 10 days and nights of collections using different types and styles of mosquito traps, a total of 10,512 adult female mosquitoes representing 29 species were collected, including a new species record for Kansas (Psorophora mathesoni). High numbers of Aedes albopictus were collected. Over 4,000 specimens of 4 Culex species in 235 species-specific pools were tested for the presence of West Nile, St. Louis, and western equine encephalitis viruses. Thirty pools representing 3 Culex species were positive for West Nile virus (WNV). No other arboviruses were detected in the samples. Infection rates of WNV in Culex pipiens complex in 2 counties (10.7/1,000 to 22.6/1,000) and in Culex salinarius in 1 county (6.0/1,000) were sufficiently high to increase the risk of transmission to humans. The infection rate of WNV in Culex erraticus was 1.9/1,000 in one county. Two focal hot spots of intense WNV transmission were identified in Montgomery and Wilson counties, where infection rates in Cx. pipiens complex were 26/ 1,000 and 19.9/1,000, respectively. Despite confirmed evidence of WNV activity in the area, there was no increase in human cases of arboviral disease documented in the 4 counties for the remainder of 2007.
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Winston-Salem, NC 27107, USA.
Bruce A
BA
Harrison
Parker B
PB
Whitt
Lesa F
LF
Roberts
Jennifer A
JA
Lehman
Nicole P
NP
Lindsey
Roger S
RS
Nasci
Gail R
GR
Hansen
D000818:Animals; D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001103:Arboviruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D004190:Disasters; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D055868:Floods; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas