Missouri health officials urged residents Wednesday to be vigilant after seeing a marked increase in West Nile virus cases.

The Missouri Department of Health and Environment said that as of Oct. 4, the state had reported 16 cases of West Nile virus so far in 2025.

Of those cases, 15 people were hospitalized and three patients died.

According to state data, two Kansas City-area residents, one in Jackson County and a second in Clay County, are among those who were hospitalized with the virus. The three deaths were reported in St. Louis, St. Charles and Grundy counties.

West Nile virus is a serious public health concern, and this years increase in cases is a reminder that we must remain vigilant, state epidemiologist Dr. George Turabelidze said in a news release Wednesday. We are asking M

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