Morris County Health Department

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

Tempted to skip breakfast? Studies have found that eating breakfast may improve short-term memory and attention. Students who eat it tend to perform better than those who don’t. Foods at the top of researchers' brain-fuel list include high-fiber whole grains, dairy, and fruits. Just don't overeat; researchers also found high-calorie breakfasts appear to hinder concentration. https://wb.md/4xcxzm1

08/26/2026

BE TICK AWARE
🏕️ Ticks are common in Kansas, and a natural part of the environment. If you spend time outdoors you will encounter ticks.
🤒Ticks can carry diseases that make people and animals sick. These include Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and the red meat allergy, Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
🚫Take measures to prevent tick bites.
🚨Perform careful tick checks on yourself, children, and pets.
🩺Watch out for symptoms for 30 days after a tick bite. See your doctor right away if you develop fever, headache, rash, fatigue, or any symptoms suggestive of tickborne disease. Early treatment can prevent severe illness.

🔗Learn more about ticks in Kansas here: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2241/Ticks

08/26/2026

🦟West Nile Virus (WNV) is the most important mosquito-borne disease in Kansas. The virus was first detected in North America in 1999 and has since spread across the continent.

- The mosquitoes that carry WNV are most active at dusk and dawn.
- It can take 2-14 days for symptoms to appear after a bite from an infected mosquito. Not everyone who is infected with WNV will have symptoms.
- Symptoms range from mild flu-like illness with fever, headache, body aches, rash, vomiting and diarrhea, to severe illness.
- About 1% of people infected with WNV develop neurological infection that can cause brain damage and even death.
- Older people and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.
- From 2021-2025, Kansas had 98 cases of neuroinvasive WNV and seven deaths.
- No vaccines or specific treatments exist for WNV in people.
- The only way to prevent WNV infection is to prevent mosquito bites.

🚨DID YOU KNOW: 🐎Horses can also get WNV from infected mosquitoes. Talk to your veterinarian about how to prevent WNV in horses.

🔗Check out KDHE's West Nile Virus (WNV) risk levels for the risk of WNV in your area and the WNV data dashboard for current case counts. Both are updated on Fridays from June through October: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1519/West-Nile-Virus

🔗 Learn more about West Nile Virus: https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/about/index.html

🔗 EPA-registered repellents: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents

08/26/2026

Kindness is medicine, no prescription needed.

Holding the door, sharing a smile, giving a complement, or lending a hand. These small acts have the power to create social connection, release feel-good hormones, lower stress and anxiety, and support other aspects of health.

Be kind to humankind, it's the healthiest habit you can have.

Social Connectedness: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2287/Social-Connectedness

08/05/2026

08/05/2026

Having difficulty falling asleep or sleeping through the night? This could be a sign of insomnia. Learn about home remedies that can help improve the quality of your sleep. https://wb.md/4x97yDA

08/05/2026

08/05/2026