An 80-year-old Oakland County man has died of complications from West Nile Virus — the second death this season in Michigan from the mosquito-borne illness, state health officials confirmed.
It’s the first human West Nile Virus-related death in Oakland County since 2015, according to the Oakland County Health Division and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“This is a tragic reminder of how severe West Nile Virus can be, especially for adults over 50 who are at greater risk for severe illness,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for the Oakland County agency. “We strongly encourage residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes, even as we enter the fall season.”
In August, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that a resident of Wayne County died of complications from the virus.
Health officials are urging residents to take precautions against mosquitoes, which carry the blood-borne illness.
Source: Detroit Free Press
