Oklahoma Records First West Nile Virus Death Since 2015

The Oklahoma Department of Health says the state has recorded its first West Nile death of the year. 

According to the OSDH, that victim was in Pottawatomie County. 

So far in 2017, instances of the illness have been reported in Bryan, Cleveland, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie and Tulsa counties.

 According to health officials, most people are infected with the virus from June through September, with the number of infections peaking in mid-August. The illness is transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes.

Last year, there were no deaths but in 2015, the health department said the state had 10 deaths related to the virus.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.