SAN BERNARDINO – Authorities say a 48-year-old San Bernardino County man has died of West Nile virus, the third death this year in California from the illness.

Officials say the Rialto man, whose name was not released, died on Aug. 27. Officials do not know how he contracted the mosquito-borne illness but say the man suffered from preexisting medical conditions which increased his chances of dying from the illness.

A total of 132 cases of West Nile virus have been reported in the state this year, five of them in San Bernardino County and two in Orange County.

Information from: Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com