Health Department: Shortage Of West Nile Test Kits In Oklahoma

It has been a record-setting year for the West Nile virus.

Oklahoma alone has had 118 cases so far this year.

Seven of those people have died.

In Tulsa, the county health department continues to spray for mosquitoes, which spread the virus.

9/4/2012 Related Story: West Nile Virus Cases In Oklahoma Breaks Record

Now, in light of the outbreak, local emergency rooms are seeing more people come in with flu-like symptoms and asking to be tested for West Nile.

Doctors are being asked to reserve the test only for patients who are actually hospitalized with a suspected case.

The state health department blames a shortage of test kits.