State health officials will begin reporting unconfirmed cases of the West Nile virus detected by commercial labs.

The Kansas Department of Health of Environment says in addition to the 61 confirmed cases of severe West Nile virus, there have been 423 cases where human tests appear to be positive for the disease.

The agency had faced some criticism for only reporting serious, confirmed cases.

KDHE officials also will begin reporting all unconfirmed deaths from
West Nile virus, based on death certificates.

KDHE only can confirm one death, an 83-year-old man in Butler County, but death certificates show three unconfirmed deaths.

Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino is the state epidemiologist. He says the state's numbers of confirmed and unverified cases are in line with other midwestern states.