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Oklahoma County Officials Confirm Second West Nile Case

Culex pipiens (the common house mosquito) is a species of blood-feeding mosquito of the family Culicidae. It is a vector of some diseases, such as Japanese encephalitis, meningitis, and urticaria. In the US, it can spread West Nile virus.
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Culex pipiens (the common house mosquito) is a species of blood-feeding mosquito of the family Culicidae. It is a vector of some diseases, such as Japanese encephalitis, meningitis, and urticaria. In the US, it can spread West Nile virus.

Public health officials in Oklahoma County say they have identified the county's second human case of West Nile Virus so far this year.

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department confirmed the West Nile diagnosis on Thursday. Ken Johnson, a spokesman for the agency, declined to release details about the patient, including the person's age and gender. However, Johnson says the virus "hits seniors very hard."

The first confirmed human case of the virus in Oklahoma County was announced last month. It's the sixth confirmed human case in the state this year. There have been no deaths in Oklahoma due to the virus since 2013.

Agency Public Health Protection Director Phil Maytubby urges residents to take precautions against the mosquito-borne illness by avoiding mosquito bites and reducing habitats where mosquitoes breed.

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