The mosquito-transmitted disease claims its second victim in Orange County. A Garden Grove man has died after experiencing West Nile virus symptoms. The Orange County Health officials confirmed the death of a Garden Grove man, age 64, but did not release any details about the case such as his identity, the date of his death, or the name of the hospital. Tests confirmed the presence of the virus in the man’s body, spokeswoman Deanne Thompson said.

The virus can be spread through insects’ biting or blood transfusion. Its symptoms can have three different stages in humans and are similar with those of flu. The final stage can lead to loss of consciousness.

The first death caused by the West Nile virus in Orange County, a 72-year-old Buena Park woman, was reported on Monday.

As health officials warned, the risk of human infection is nearly five times higher than in previous years. The situation was difficult in 2004, when there were 710 reported cases of West Nile virus infections and 21 infection-related deaths in California.

So far this year the Health Care Agency has confirmed 32 cases of West Nile virus in Orange County. Officials warned that people need to protect themselves from mosquito bites. In order to avoid the contamination with the virus, people are advised by the authorities to avoid exposure at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

As West Nile season reaches its high point in mid-August, officials fear an outbreak between August and October.