FRANKFORT — A second death in Kentucky has been attributed to infection by the West Nile virus, and three other people are believed stricken, state health officials said Tuesday.

        The victim was described as an 82-year-old woman in Jefferson County. Neither her identity nor information about her health history were released by the Cabinet for Health Services.

        The woman's death, and infections besetting three others, are listed by the cabinet as “probable” West Nile cases.

        That means local laboratory tests for the virus were positive but must be confirmed through additional testing by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cabinet spokesman Gil Lawson said.

        The cabinet said two of the others also are in Jefferson County - a 31-year-old man who is hospitalized and a 25-year-old woman who has been released from a hospital. The third is a 68-year-old Green County man who is hospitalized.

        All the new cases occurred in mid- to late-August, Mr. Lawson said. They brought to 10 the number of confirmed or probable cases of West Nile encephalitis or meningitis in Kentucky. They also added to the CDC's nationwide count, which through Friday stood at 31 deaths and 638 probable cases.

        The CDC has confirmed two West Nile cases in humans in Kentucky - Carroll Woods, 84, of Morganfield, who died Aug. 19, and a Jefferson County woman, 45, who was hospitalized.

        Mosquitoes infected with the virus spread the disease through bites. Health officials say only 1 percent of mosquitoes are infected. Severe illness occurs in less than 1 percent of humans bitten by mosquitoes carrying the virus.

        West Nile virus was first reported among birds and horses in Kentucky last year. More than 100 horses have been infected with the virus this year. The Department of Agriculture confirmed 23 of the 112 cases Monday.

Lt. Col. Twitty's supporters undaunted by indictment
County prosecutor let defense witnesses testify to grand jury
More of the same, black leaders say
Possible Twitty successors in limbo
Reactions
Mike Allen excerpts
Interchange plan riles up residents
Taft claims 'a bold agenda'
Action Agency to go against boycott
Deputy critically injured
Federal workers take spots today to check airport bags
Huntington tenants get extra time
Junior League to target child mental illness
Navy's No. 1 officer urges recruits on
Tristate A.M. Report
United Ways kick off campaigns
BRONSON: Lt. Col. Twitty
GUTIERREZ: 12th Street
HOWARD: Some Good News
KORTE: City Hall
SMITH AMOS: Opening lines
Answers sought on landfill site
Lakota schools open doors
Springfield Twp. outlines 'vision'
Steroids investigation ends when covert operation exposed
Thieves resume West Chester hits
Underage drinkers may cost stores
West Chester official censored
Backers of drug law gave $1M to put plan on ballot
2nd Ky. death 'probable' West Nile
Animal shelter shootings gain opponent
Construction of I-66 ready to roll
Kentucky News Briefs
Military enlistments slow down
Mud flies in Louisville election
N.Ky. sewer board reviews operations
Poll on parks planned
Three months after suspect's death, robbery questions linger