Maricopa County health officials have recorded the first West Nile virus-related death of the season. And the rate of confirmed cases is also up from this time last year.
Officials identified the victim as an older man who had underlying health conditions.
Most people who contract the virus show no symptoms at all. One in five develop flu-like illness. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health says about 1 in 150 cases may cause severe complications or death.
The virus is typically spread through mosquito bites. There have been 17 confirmed cases of West Nile so far this year, compared to four cases during the same time period last year.
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