DES MOINES, Iowa —

Iowa officials confirmed the state's first case of West Nile virus this year in a middle-aged adult from northern Iowa, as the Polk County Health Department issued warnings about increased mosquito activity.

Hendrix Castillo, who spends time fishing at Water Works Park, said, "It hurts, it hurts."

His legs were covered in red bite marks from mosquitoes.

"Just go outside for a couple seconds, and they'll get you immediately. They're, they're not that bad, but they hurt," Castillo said.

The Polk County Health Department is alerting residents following data from Iowa State University experts, who have detected unprecedented levels of West Nile virus in mosquito traps across the state.

Addie Olson from the Polk County Health Department said, "In the most recent data

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