A Woodbury County man has been diagnosed with Iowa?s first West Nile virus case of the year, state officials said today.the unidentified man was not hospitalized, and he has recovered, the Iowa Department of Public Health said.

West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes, which pick it up from infected birds. Most people who are infected with it suffer few or no symptoms. but some suffer serious problems, including high fevers and brain swelling.”West Nile virus is a seasonal threat especially in late August or early September,” Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the department?s medical director, said in a press release. “This first case should remind us to take precautions, such as using personal protection and making sure mosquitoes can’t breed around your home.”She said Iowans should use insect repellant whenever outdoors; and wear long-sleeved pants and shirts, plus shoes and socks, whenever possible. they also should remove standing water, where mosquitoes breed. Water can pool in many places, including ceramic pots, toys, buckets, tires, wading pools and tarps.?If this year proves to be a typical year, we expect to see more cases of West Nile virus illness in Iowa,? Quinlisk said. ?Mosquitoes don?t die until the first frost, so Iowans should get in the habit of taking precautions for the next couple of months.?West Nile was seen as a bigger threat when it first appeared on the East Coast in 1999 and began moving West. It started sickening Iowans in 2002. the peak year here was 2003, when the virus sickened 147 Iowans, killing six.Last year, the virus sickened five Iowans. Two of them had to be hospitalized, but none died. Scientists suspect the number of cases has dropped because many people have been exposed to the virus now and have built up immunity to it. however, they note that the disease still can be deadly to people who aren?t immune. there is no vaccination for humans.