The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has confirmed two new West Nile virus (WNV) human cases today – one in Oakland County and the other in Macomb County - bringing the total number of state human cases to five.

Both cases have been confirmed WNV positive by the state’s public health laboratory in Lansing.

The individuals – a 44-year-old Macomb County woman and a 67-year-old Oakland County man – were positively identified by MDCH on Friday.

The Oakland County man has since recovered, while the Macomb County woman was hospitalized and was later released.

“Nationally, human WNV cases are very high, particularly in the West, but Michigan has seen a significant decline in cases compared to last year,” said Dr. Matthew L. Boulton, state epidemiologist. There has been only one death amongst the five confirmed Michigan cases this year.

In 2002, Michigan had the second highest number of West Nile virus human cases in the nation in 2002, with 644 cases, including 51 deaths.

Michigan citizens are still advised to take measures to minimize exposure to mosquitoes, even with recently cooling weather. Some species of mosquitoes thatcan transmit the virus to humans sometimes seek out warmer environments, such as the interiors of homes, and could represent an ongoing source of WNV transmission.

Visit the State of Michigan’s web site on WNV at www.michigan.gov/wnv for complete information and resources.