New figures from the Oklahoma Department of Health show the West Nile Virus death toll has increased by one person in the past week. The number of confirmed cases is up by five. The latest death was from Tulsa County.
Since January 1, 2012, 127 cases of WNV and 8 deaths due to WNV have been reported to the state.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health advises use of insect repellants—particularly those containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535—when enjoying outdoor activities like gardening, yard work, camping, or other leisure activities.
The type of mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active during early morning and evening hours, so it is important to take mosquito bite precautions during that time of the day. It is also recommended to drain or treat standing water around your home with a mosquito larvacide to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
