SAN DIEGO – A 49-year-old El Cajon man is the latest person in San Diego County to be diagnosed with the West Nile virus, authorities said Tuesday.

The man has been discharged from a hospital and his condition is improving, said Leslie Ridgeway, a spokeswoman for the county Health and Human Services Agency.

Thirty-two people in the county have been diagnosed so far this year with the mosquito-borne illness, compared with 15 total in 2007.

In addition, 543 birds and four horses have died in the county so far this year after contracting the virus, Ridgeway said.

The county has a toll-free West Nile virus information line to report dead birds or to get more information; call (888) 551-4636.

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