WICHITA - State health officials say 18 cases of the West Nile virus have been reported so far this year in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says 11 of the cases have been reported in Sedgwick County, with the rest throughout the state. State public health veterinarian Ingrid Garrison says health officials are expecting to see more cases because the peak time for the virus is August into September. The virus is spread by mosquitoes. It causes only mild illness in most people. But in some cases it develops into a severe illness with permanent neurological effects. Garrison says Kansas has had nine cases in the severe category.