Los Angeles Health officials confirmed on Friday the first reported death in Los Angeles County due to West Nile virus.

A man in his 80s from the southeast part of the county died of the disease earlier this month after having been hospitalized, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Public Health Department (PHD).

"Older adults and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for complications and death from West Nile virus than others," said PHD director Dr. Jonathan Fielding.

So far this year, 69 people infected with the virus have been reported in Los Angeles County. Of those, 14 showed no symptoms --the virus was detected in blood that they donated.

Last year, 43 cases were reported in the county, resulting in five deaths. Those deaths were the first West Nile virus-related deaths in the county since the virus emerged here in 2004.

Throughout the state, 162 human cases of the virus have been reported so far this year, resulting in four fatalities.

Health officials have warned that the risk of contracting West Nile virus from mosquito bites is the highest it has been in four years.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2008)