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.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
