3rd West Nile human case confirmed in Suffolk

A third confirmed human case of West Nile virus was reported Tuesday by Suffolk County, bringing to nine the total on Long Island so far this year.

A Town of Huntington woman over 50, now recovering, "became ill and was hospitalized in October with symptoms consistent with West Nile virus," said a Suffolk County health department release.

Reported earlier were cases involving Town of Brookhaven residents, recovered or recovering, both over 50, with one displaying symptoms in September and the other hospitalized in August, officials said.

In Nassau, six cases have been confirmed: a man over age 60 in the Town of Oyster Bay; a man over 70 in the Town of Hempstead; a woman over 50 in the Town of Hempstead; and a man over 60 in the Town of Hempstead, all of whom had exhibited symptoms in August, had been hospitalized and were recovering, health officials said. Reported earlier were cases of a man older than 50 from the Town of Hempstead and a woman older than 60 from the Town of Oyster Bay, both of whom had been recovering, health officials said.

Some mosquito bites can transmit West Nile to humans, with mosquitoes picking up the virus by feeding on infected birds.

Nationally, last year ranked as the second-worst in terms of West Nile cases since the disease was first detected in the United States in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Nassau and Suffolk counties reported 14 human cases each last year, including one Nassau death.