Prevention & Testing Information for Kansas
The Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories will test Zika specimens that meet certain clinical and/or exposure criteria with approval by KDHE. For any questions or testing approval, call the KDHE Epidemiology hotline at (877) 427-7317.
Zika Virus Surveillance
Zika virus disease is caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects including microcephaly. Zika virus can also be spread through sexual contact.
There has been no local transmission of Zika virus in Kansas. The two mosquitoes that can spread Zika virus are Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti; both are non-native invasive mosquito species in Kansas.
Learn more about Zika virus on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Zika Virus Reports