A provincial laboratory has detected the first human case of West Nile virus in Manitoba for this year.
A 50-year-old Winnipeg man was diagnosed this week, and an investigation is ongoing to determine the severity of his infection.
Another person who doesn't live in the province is also believed to have contracted the virus while visiting western Manitoba.
The province says the numbers culex tarsalis mosquitoes, the type of mosquito that carry the virus, have increased in most southern Manitoban communities. The highest overall numbers are in the Assiniboine Health Region.
In 2007, 587 cases of West Nile virus were identified in Manitoba. Of those, 72 cases were identified as West Nile virus neurological syndrome, which is the most severe form of the disease, 501 cases were identified as the less severe West Nile virus non-neurological syndrome and nine cases showed no symptoms.
Last year the first human case was reported on June 21.
