OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The
Oklahoma State Department of Health is reporting five new cases of West
Nile virus - but no additional deaths.
The department said
Thursday in its bi-weekly report that there have been 160 cases and nine
deaths in the state this year. The previous record of 107 cases and
seven deaths set in 2007 was broken in early September.
Officials say the virus
will remain a threat until the first freeze neutralizes the mosquitoes
that carry the disease. The first freeze generally occurs around the
first of November.
Oklahoma County has the
most cases with 54 and has had two deaths. Tulsa County is second in
total cases with 31 and has had the most deaths with 3. Deaths were also
reported in Seminole, Muskogee and Choctaw counties.
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