OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — First death of the year in Oklahoma due to the West Nile Virus has been reported.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health on Thursday reported that a Carter County resident has died due to the virus that is spread by mosquito bites. The department reported a total of 16 cases of the virus statewide.
The death reported is the first in the state due to the virus since 2013 when eight people died. There were 18 confirmed cases in Oklahoma last year.
Both the greatest number of cases and deaths in Oklahoma due to the virus was in 2012 when there were 176 cases with 15 of those resulting in death.