Elderly man dies from West Nile Virus in San Joaquin County

Oakland Tribune, Jul 31, 2007 by Staff Reports

An 86-year-old San Joaquin County man has died after contracting the West Nile Virus, according to public health officials.

He lived in the central part of the county and became infected with the most serious form of the virus, West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease. The risk for this strain is highest in people over the age of 50 and with health problems affecting their immune systems, said Karen McConnell, the county's spokeswoman.

The man is the third person to die from the virus in California this year, according to the California Department of Public Health. He is the second person to die from the virus in San Joaquin County since it was first detected in 2004.