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Ok. Health Department West Nile Virus Update 10/3/02

Oklahoma City, OK – There are no new human cases confirmed for Oklahoma so the total for 2002 remains at 4 with all recovering and the good news is no persons have died in the Sooner State due to West Nile Virus complications. 307 birds collected from 28 counties tested positive for the virus, 40 are new cases with the most from Tulsa County (15), Oklahoma County (6), Cleveland County (4), and Payne County (4). The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry reports 128 cases of West Nile encephalitits in horses in 44 counties with 55 new positive horse cases over the past week. The most new cases are from Cleveland County (6), Payne County (4) and Grady County (4). Comanche County reports one new horse case with one tested but according to reports, a local vet says there are more so that number could rise by perhaps half a dozen at the next counting period. Ft. Sill Public Affairs Office tells KCCU the post is the only testing site to gather mosquitoes and the testing is done in connection with the state health department. So far during 2002, 53 pools of mosquitoes have been submitted for testing from the post with 8 pools testing positive. For more information and a breakdown of the figures, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health web site at www.health.state.ok.us.