OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma State Health Department says the number of West Nile Virus cases in the state is now up to 144 while the number of deaths due to the virus remains at eight.

The department reported Tuesday that the number of cases in 2012 is approaching one-half of the total number of West Nile cases reported from 2002 - when the virus first appeared in the state - to 2011.

The department reports there were 327 cases and a total of 21 deaths in Oklahoma due to West Nile between 2002 and 2011.

The previous single year record of 107 West Nile cases and seven deaths that was set in 2007 was broken earlier this month.

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