Health officials report Indiana's third West Nile death

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INDIANAPOLIS — Local health officials say an Indianapolis resident has died from the West Nile virus, the third confirmed Indiana death this year from the mosquito-borne illness.

The death reported Thursday was the second reported by Marion County health officials. They announced the death of another Indianapolis resident on Aug. 27. An Evansville-area resident's death was reported Aug. 15.

State officials say West Nile transmission within the mosquito population is higher than in previous years and that Indiana residents should take steps to protect themselves. Mosquitoes carrying the virus have been found in at least 67 Indiana counties so far this year.

Health officials recorded one death from the disease in each of the last two years. The first human cases in Indiana occurred in 2002, when 11 people died.