Sacramento, CA — Health officials say 62 additional horses have been infected with West Nile Virus over the past week.

That brings the total so far this year to 148, resulting in 67 deaths. The new figures include first cases for four counties.

Those counties are Contra Costa, Nevada, Shasta and Ventura. Officials say it wasn´t until September of last year before 140 cases were reported.

That causes health officials to fear a spike in West Nile infections among horses.

Officials continue to urge horse owners statewide to get their animals vaccinated as soon as possible if they haven´t already done so.