West Nile Virus Returns

The West Nile virus has been confirmed in Tulsa County. The Tulsa Health Department says its testing program found mosquitoes in Tulsa carrying the virus. The virus, according to health officials, is

Wednesday, August 1st 2007, 6:33 am

By: News On 6

The West Nile virus has been confirmed in Tulsa County. The Tulsa Health Department says its testing program found mosquitoes in Tulsa carrying the virus. The virus, according to health officials, is transmitted in Oklahoma primarily by Culex mosquitoes. These mosquitoes pick up the virus when they feed on infected birds, and then transmit the virus when they bite humans, horses and some other mammals.

Symptoms of West Nile disease include fever, intense headache, extreme tiredness, muscle weakness, and dizziness.

So far, there are no reports of human cases of West Nile in Tulsa County.

The Tulsa Health Department also works to control mosquito populations during the spring and summer. In a typical mosquito season, the health department sprays over 800 square miles for adult mosquitoes. To place a complaint about mosquitoes in your area, please call 918-595-4219.

Last year, the disease killed six Oklahomans.

For more information about West Nile prevention, visit the Tulsa Health Department web site at www.tulsa-health.org.