Suffolk reports three more West Nile cases

Three more human cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed in Suffolk County, bringing the countywide total this year to 15, health officials said Wednesday.

None of the three cases confirmed this week were fatal, and none of the victims were hospitalized. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services did not release the patients' names or genders.

Officials said the first case was a Huntington resident under age 55 who experienced fever, joint pain, aches, weakness and fatigue beginning on Aug. 14 and has since recovered at home. The next was a Town of Brookhaven resident under age 55 whose symptoms - including fever, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting - began on Aug. 24 and who also recovered at home.

The last, a Town of Islip resident over age 55, began experiencing fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and some confusion in early August. That person is recovering at home, officials said.

Suffolk has only had one West Nile virus-related death this year; there have been a total of five in the county since the virus was first detected in 1999.