Oklahoma Woman Survives West Nile Virus

An Oklahoma woman who survived West Nile is doing what she can to warn others about the virus.

Kristen Acosta was on a float trip on the Illinois River in Tahlequah when she started coming down with the symptoms. She says it took doctors a little while to figure out was she had. Eventually, a Mercy Hospital infectious disease doctor figured it out. 

Oklahoma County Public Health Protection Director Phil Maytubby says last year, the county found West Nile-infected mosquitos sixty different times in their mosquito traps. Maytubby says that's 3 times more than we've ever had in Oklahoma history.

"It is life-threatening, and I feel very blessed like I am a success story. I feel there are many people who are not here and I feel like I am speaking for all of them,” said Acosta.

Health workers say the best thing people can do is make sure they don't allow water to stand and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Four people died from West Nile in Oklahoma last year.