Elderly woman from Oakland County succumbs to West Nile Virus

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A day after the health department in Coldwater announced Branch County’s first case this year of West Nile virus detected in 3 dead birds, the Oakland County Health Department Friday confirmed the first death attributed to West Nile this year in Michigan. No human cases have been detected in local area covered by the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. Officials say the Oakland County victim was an 81-year old woman. People are being urged to limit their outdoor activity from dusk to dawn, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and use a mosquito repellent containing the chemical DEET.