The Iowa Department of Public Health announced the death of a unidentified elderly man who died on Wednesday due to West Nile virus infection, making this the state’s first fatality for the year.

Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the department's medical director fears that the virus is still a threat for another two months. “The number of Iowans infected with West Nile virus tends to increase in September and sometimes into October if the weather stays nice. Until the state's first hard frost, being outside means there's a risk for West Nile virus."

Other new cases of infection from the deadly virus are spread throughout the country, luckily with no other fatalities yet. Most of the victims are elder, as people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease and even death.

Calhoun County Public Health Department has also presented another case of West Nile, spokeswoman for the Calhoun County Public Health Department Brigette Reichenbaugh reports. A 78-year-old Calhoun County woman was confirmed to have the virus during a routine laboratory test, but she showed no signs or symptoms of the virus and refused medical treatment.

West Nile Virus is transmitted when an infected mosquito bites a bird or a human. Most people show no signs or symptoms and about 20 percent will have very mild symptoms such as fever, headache or body aches. Even fewer people will develop a mild rash or swollen lymph glands. In extremely rare cases — less than 1 percent of people infected- the virus can cause permanent nervous system damage and death.