Technology

Computer virus problems slowly abating in area

The Sobig virus continued to cause trouble for area computer users Wednesday, though it appeared the problem was shrinking.

Jim Taylor, payroll and information technology manager at Harris Construction Co., 3200 Haskell Ave., described the virus as a “nuisance.” He said the company’s e-mail traffic remained slow because the roughly 25 employees with e-mail accounts at the company had received more than 1,000 messages related to the virus.

But the company’s anti-virus software was stripping e-mails of their damaging attachments before they reached workers’ in-boxes, he said.

E-mail systems were up and running at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment after being shut down Tuesday. The computer system at Franklin County District Court, which was shut down Tuesday because of the virus, also was back to normal, an official said.

At Kansas University, e-mail was flowing at normal speed, in part because the school was blocking e-mails with subject lines known to be related to the virus.

Health

Three West Nile cases confirmed in humans

Topeka — State health officials said Wednesday they had confirmed three more cases of West Nile virus in humans, bringing this year’s total to eight.

The latest victims were a 41-year-old Cloud County resident, a 79-year-old in Pratt County and a 53-year-old from Decatur County. The Pratt and Decatur county victims remained in hospitals, while the Cloud County resident was recovering at home, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said.

So far, KDHE has reported no West Nile-related deaths. Last year, the state had 22 West Nile cases in humans and no deaths.