SAN BERNARDINO--County health officials have confirmed their first human case of West Nile virus this year.

A middle-aged man living in the San Bernardino Valley is recovering.

Acting County Health Officer Dr. Ryan Zane says West Nile virus peaked in 2004 with nearly 200 human cases, but has declined since then.

“There are certainly fewer numbers as compared to the last couple of years.”

Of the five cases in San Bernardino County last year, there was one fatality.
While human infections remain low, the virus in mosquitoes that transmit the disease are hitting an all-time high in parts of Southern California.

Story Date: August 7, 2008