Health officials: West Nile found early in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Health officials say they've identified West Nile virus in two Michigan counties, the earliest such detection in several years as weather conditions encourage the presence of mosquitoes.

The Michigan Department of Community Health announced Tuesday a mosquito pool sample collected in mid-June by Saginaw County officials tested positive for the virus. A wild turkey from Washtenaw County that was submitted to the Department of Natural Resources also tested positive.

No human cases have been confirmed this year.

The health department says the virus could present a risk to human health since it's circulating in mosquitoes and birds. Officials are urging people to take steps to avoid mosquito bites.

The department says an unusually warm spring encouraged the early hatching of mosquitoes, which transmit the virus.

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Online:

http://www.michigan.gov/westnile