Officials Confirm First West Nile Death on LI

Nassau County health officials say a resident from the town of Oyster Bay who was older than 80 has died

Officials on Long Island are confirming the first death of 2012 related to West Nile virus.

Nassau County health officials say a resident from the town of Oyster Bay who was older than 80 has died. No other specific details about the victim's death were announced.

Nassau officials say another resident also tested positive but is recovering.

Officials in neighboring Suffolk County say two people have been confirmed with the disease this year.

Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the 2012 outbreak is one of the largest in the U.S., with four times the usual number of cases

So far, 1,118 illnesses have been reported. About half of them are in Texas. In an average year, fewer than 300 cases are reported by mid-August.

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