Manitoba's first human case of West Nile virus this year found in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG - Manitoba has its first human case of West Nile virus for 2008.

The province's chief medical officer says the victim is a 50-year-old man from the Winnipeg area.

Further investigation is being done to figure out when and where he contracted the virus, as well as how severe his illness is.

Health officials are also looking into another case in a person who lives outside Manitoba, but who may have been infected near Brandon.

There were more than 580 cases of the virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, in the province last year.

Of those, 72 were identified as West Nile virus neurological syndrome - the most severe form of the disease.