(AP) — Kansas has had 32 cases of West Nile virus this year, with a dozen of those cases reported in the past week.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says two of the 32 people who contracted the illness have died. There were 57 cases of West Nile virus reported in Kansas last year.

KDHE Secretary Robert Moser says residents should be taking precautions against mosquitoes, which can spread the disease through bites. Symptoms can range from a slight headache and low-grade fever to swelling of the brain.

The department says that as of Oct. 7, Sedgwick County had the most cases with seven. Barton County had six. Cases also were reported in several other counties, including, Saline, Rush, Johnson, Sherman and Wyandotte.