Overview

• As of Oct. 4, Missouri has logged 16 human West Nile virus cases, with 15 hospitalizations and three deaths, according to the state health department.
• Health officials say additional cases are under investigation as surveillance indicates elevated activity compared with recent years.
• Hospitalizations include patients from Jackson and Clay counties, and deaths have been recorded in St. Louis, St. Charles, and Grundy counties.
• The state advises using repellents with DEET, picaridin, or IR3535, wearing long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk, removing standing water, and repairing window and door screens.
• Residents are urged to report dead birds to the Missouri Department of Conservation to support tracking of the virus, which public health officials note is part of a broader U.S. uptick this season.