West Nile virus claims 3rd Californian

SAN BERNADINO, Calif., Sept. 6 (UPI) -- The third person to die of West Nile disease in California this year had from pre-existing conditions that may have hastened his death, officials said.

The unnamed 48-year-old San Benardino County man died Aug. 27 of the mosquito-borne virus, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

"While the vast majority of people who contract West Nile virus recover, deaths, however rare, do occur," Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, the county's health officer, said in a statement. "We are saddened at this gentleman's death and this underscores how serious West Nile virus can be."

Ohikhuare did not say describe the victim's pre-existing medical conditions.

About 132 cases of West Nile virus have been reported in California this year, including five in San Bernardino County, the newspaper said. The two other West Nile deaths were in Orange County.