FOLEY — One human case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed in South Baldwin County.

In a news release Friday, the Alabama Department of Public Health announced the confirmation that the case is one of 12 throughout the state.

“Of the 12 confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus, one are male and three are female,” Dee Jones of ADPH said in the release, “and their ages range from 42 to 73.”

As previously reported, the Baldwin County Health Department announced Wednesday that five possible cases of the mosquito-borne illness were being investigated in South Baldwin. West Nile Virus  can cause such symptoms as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. In rare instances — fewer than 1 percent of cases — the virus can cause severe neurological damage or death. Those most susceptible are the elderly, children and people with underlying health problems.

Also as previously reported, early medical treatment of symptoms can curtail development of West Nile. South Baldwin residents are urged to take precautions to avoid mosquitos by wearing appropriate clothing when outdoors, using insecticide, especially during dawn or dusk hours and emptying containers with standing water. For water that can’t be removed or changed, the Baldwin County Health Department has free larvicide disks.

Attempts to gain comment from the Baldwin County Health Department were unsuccessful.