(Sept. 18, 2026) –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Division of Public Health has released recent information for awareness and guidance.
On Sept. 11, they issued a Rise in Kansas Pediatric Emergency Department Visits via the Kansas Health Alert Network, reporting an increase in pediatric emergency department visits since August 2026 related to acute respiratory illness. These illnesses, along with rising EV-D68 concentrations in wastewater samples, may precede a rise in Acute Flaccid Myelitis cases. The KS HAN provides additional information on this reportable disease.
On Sept. 15, KDHE also shared Increase in Reported Human Rabies Exposures and Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis Administration via the KS HAN, to alert clinicians to an increase in rabies exposures. The Rabies KS HAN also provides identification, treatment and reporting assistance.
For more information about the Kansas Health Alert Network, visit Kansas Health Alert Network (KS-HAN) | KDHE, KS.
--Larry Van Der Wege