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PHOENIX (AP) - Health officials say an elderly man in Maricopa County has died after contracting the West Nile Virus.

The name of the victim, who had underlying health issues, wasn't released Tuesday.

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health said it is the county's first death of the season from the disease.

The mosquito-transmitted disease first was found in Arizona in 2003. Since then, more than 1,000 human cases have been reported.

Maricopa County experienced a mild season last year with 45 lab-confirmed cases. The county's worst season was in 2004 with 355 confirmed cases.