Mich. health officials confirm 5th West Nile death

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan health officials say an 87-year-old woman from Kent County is the fifth person to die from the West Nile virus in the state this year.

State Department of Community Health spokeswoman Angela Minicuci confirmed the death Thursday.

She had no other details on the woman.

The announcement came a day after MDCH Interim Chief Medical Executive Dean Sienko told reporters that Michigan is experiencing an "epidemic of West Nile virus activity."

Experts think a mild winter, early spring and hot summer have helped stimulate mosquito breeding and the spread of the virus.