West Nile virus has arrived in Douglas County. Health officials on Thursday announced the year’s first case here.

A 22-year-old resident of the county had the onset of West Nile virus fever in August, but was not hospitalized, according to the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment also reported Thursday the state’s third West Nile virus-related death. The victim was a person older than 65 from south-central Kansas, who died from West Nile virus encephalitis and meningitis.

State and area health officials advised residents to be cautious and guard against the virus that can be spread to humans by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds.

The KDHE also reported Thursday that a 68-year-old Pratt County resident was hospitalized after contracting the virus in late July. That was the state’s 18th case this year.