Virus

By Kim Wilhelm (WICHITA, Kan.) It's that time of year again - mosquito season!  If you've spent any time outside recently, you know the mosquitos seem bad this year.  That means it's also time to think about West Nile Virus.  WNV first showed up in Kansas in 2002.  Since then, the number of official cases has decreased but health officials say you should still take steps to prevent it. The following is information about West Nile Virus from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

By Megan Strader (WICHITA, Kan.) Hidden among the blooms we like to look at, are the allergens we hate to deal with. "Watery eyes and the runny nose and the coughing, I've had a lot of coughing this year," said Judy Lawrence.  Making her relaxing walks a little more painful, and everyday chores something Kenneth Reed needs to prepared for. "First time I came out here (to mow his grass), I didn't wear a mask and I got pretty short of breath so just wearing a mask really helps.

by Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.) All of the pediatric beds are full at Wichita's Wesley Medical Center and Via Christi Hospital. A third of those patients have the Respiratory Syncytial virus or RSV. It's a respiratory virus that makes it hard for babies to breath. To deal with the influx of cases this time of year, Wesley has started an outpatient clinic to free up more hospital beds. Eight week old Adysin Tabtab needs the gunk in her lungs to be sucked out. She has RSV which makes it hard for her to breath and take a bottle.

Update: Tuesday the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the deaths of two more people who were infected with H1N1.   A 44 year-old man from Kansas City died November 20th. He had underlying health conditions. A 35 year-old man from northeast Kansas died the same day. He did not have any health conditions that put him at a greater risk. 21 people infected with H1N1 have died in Kansas. By Eyewitness News (TOPEKA, Kan.) KDHE reports a 75 year old man from the Topeka metro area has died from infection with the H1N1 influenza virus.

By Jennifer Searle (SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it will start sending monthly releases focused on getting different groups vaccinated with the H1N1 vaccine. It says one of the highest priority groups is people with chronic conditions. Health experts say racial minorities tend to have chronic health conditions, including diabetes and heart conditions. People with chronic conditions can develop complications from the H1N1 virus.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A group that represents public health departments in Kansas holds its annual conference this week under the shadow of expected swine flu outbreaks. The new, pandemic strain of the H1N1 virus will be on the agenda during the Kansas Public Health Association's two-day event. The conference begins Wednesday at the Wichita Hyatt Regency hotel. One session will be devoted to the topic, "How to Spread Information and Not the Flu. " Another will explore the deadly international influenza epidemic of 1918-19, which is believed to have started in Kansas.

By Eyewitness News (WICHITA, Kan.) A spokesperson with Wichita Public Schools says the district will no longer notify parents when there is a new confirmed case of a student infected with the H1N1 virus. In the past, USD 259 notified parents when a case of H1N1 was confirmed by KDHE.  District spokesperson Susan Arnesman says for every confirmed case of the flu strain, there are dozens that go un-confirmed. The district says because H1N1 appears to be wide spread, and health and safety precautions are the same regardless of flu type, the district will no longer notify parents of individual cases.

What do the Pentagon, the White House and celebrity twitter accounts have in common? They've all recently been hacked.  No one is safe from hackers, even average everyday people like you and me can be targets.  Factfinder 12 wanted to know, what is at stake when your computer is hacked? Computers store a lot of personal data and that could all be taken from you. Things like passwords, personal contacts and bank account information could be at risk.  The best way to protect yourself from hackers is to turn off your computer and disconnect the router.  You should also invest in anti-virus and spy-ware programs.

If you're feeling stuffy and ready to sneeze, chances are you're not alone.  The Asthma and Allergy Foundation released its top cities for fall allergies.  It lists Wichita as number two. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation uses three pieces of criteria to make up their list, Pollen Scores (grass, tree, weed, mold) Number of allergy medications per patient Number of allergy specialists per patient However, an Wichita allergist doesn't completely believe the study.