Health Department Kicks Off Annual West Nile Virus Awareness Campaign

The City-County Health Department kicked off its annual West Nile Virus Awareness campaign Thursday.  

There were only five documented cases of the West Nile Virus in Oklahoma County, but it killed 15 people in the state in 2012. 

Oklahoma County Public Health Protection Director Phil Maytubby says hot temperatures will certainly bring the West Nile back to Oklahoma County very soon. 

Kristen Acosta was nearly killed five years ago after being bitten by a mosquito that carried the West Nile Virus.  She urges fellow Oklahomans to wear mosquito repellent, because those who contract the virus suffer mightily.

“All they can do is basically manage the pain.  Because it’s the pain that is very unmanageable,” said Acosta.