Topeka ? State health officials have confirmed three new human cases of West Nile virus, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Thursday.

That brings the state’s total to 17 human cases this year. Health officials expect the number to increase as West Nile virus season peaks in August and September.

The latest cases are a 41-year-old in Shawnee County, an 85-year-old in Pratt County and a 45-year-old in Hodgeman County. All began showing onset of the virus in August. No further details were released by the state.

There has been one West Nile death in Kansas, an 93-year-old Butler County man.