3rd case of West Nile virus confirmed in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma State Department of Health says a third case of West Nile virus this year has been confirmed in the state.

The department says a resident of Ellis County in western Oklahoma has contracted the virus. The person’s name and gender were not released. The department said Thursday that the person is between 18- and 50-years-old.

Two other confirmed cases were reported in June in McIntosh and Okfuskee counties in the eastern half of the state.

There have been no deaths in Oklahoma due to the virus since 2013 when eight people died and 76 cases were confirmed. The record number of deaths due to the virus is 15 recorded in 2012.

West Nile virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.