Chiefs radio host Art Hains, who is dealing with serious illness, moved to KC hospital

The Chiefs Radio Network had a moment of silence for pregame/postgame host Art Hains during coverage of Sunday’s game in Indianapolis, as he remains in critical condition.

The Springfield News-Ledger reported Hains had been in a Springfield hospital after likely contracting the West Nile virus. He was airlifted Sunday to the University of Kansas Medical Center, the paper said.

Hains fell ill on Sept. 17 and went to a hospital, where his condition rapidly declined and he was placed in the intensive care unit, the News-Ledger said.

After arriving in Kansas City, Hains has shown improvement, according to his friend, former Missouri State athletic director Bill Rowe.

On Wednesday morning, Rowe was on KBFL-FM and provided an update on Hains’ condition. He said the Chiefs had a hand in helping Hains get transported to Kansas City.

“There’s been better news Monday and even yesterday (Tuesday), too. He opened his eyes more than once,” said Rowe, who had seen Hains on Sunday in the hospital. “Monday he had opened his eyes on command. First time he had done that. ... He had some shoulder movement four or five times, then they moved him up a little bit in the bed. They did steroids but he’s still on the ventilator and is going to be for a while.

“Make no mistake, it’s going to take a while for that thing to get removed. But the signs are encouraging now. On Sunday morning, it was rather dire, for lack of a better term, but we’ve gone beyond that.”

Rowe added: “This is gonna be a haul, but to me things are looking up from what they were a week ago.”

Hains, 66, also broadcasts Missouri State games. He first felt ill after calling the Bears’ football game against Arkansas.

A year ago, there were 12 cases of West Nile virus in Missouri and one death, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services.

“The media outlets have people follow them all the time and Art as for the games he’s done, high school, college, radio shows, and people that don’t know him personally, they do know him because of that voice,” Rowe said. “So ... let’s keep our prayers rolling.”