South Dakota's first West Nile death of season reported in Hamlin County

State officials have confirmed the first West Nile virus related death in South Dakota of 2017.

According to the Department of Health, a Hamlin County resident died due causes associated with the virus.

The victim was between the age of 80 and 89. No other details about the victim have been released.

Officials say South Dakota has 39 reported cases of West Nile virus this year. A third of those had the more serious neruoinvasive disease, while the rest had WNV fever. 44 percent of those cases resulted in hospitalization.

There have been 14 West Nile-associated deaths in the United States this season.

State Epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger said wearing mosquito repellent and removing standing water where mosquitoes breed both reduce the spread of the virus.