SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The lone West Nile case reported in South Dakota so far this season was less-serious West Nile fever, the state epidemiologist said Wednesday.

West Nile virus affects people's nervous systems, but the less serious West Nile fever does not. The fever victim, who lives in Hughes County in central South Dakota, has recovered completely and didn't have to be hospitalized, state epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger said.

It was one of six West Nile cases reported so far nationwide.

"Given the fact that we've had a human case in South Dakota of somebody who had not traveled out of state, we know the virus is here," Kightlinger said. "So people should be taking precautions,"

West Nile virus is a bird disease that is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.

Most people who get the virus show no symptoms. Others may have a fever, headache and body aches. Extreme cases can result in inflammation of the brain or spinal cord lining, or death.

Twenty-six people in South Dakota have died of West Nile since the first reported case in 2002. South Dakota led the nation with 14 West Nile deaths in 2003. There were 1,039 infections in South Dakota that year.

Last year, the state had 39 cases and no deaths.

The West Nile season starts when mosquitoes become active, tapers off in September and ends when a freeze kills the mosquitoes. August is usually the month when most West Nile cases are identified, Kightlinger said.

Many South Dakota communities are scrambling to spray mosquitoes even though the state's budget shortfall has meant less money is available for mosquito control grants.

Previous grants provided tools that cities need to kill the insects, Kightlinger said.

"That includes all the equipment used to actually do the mosquito control," he said. "What was offered this year were the chemicals. The understanding of the grant program was that eventually the communities would have to take over the program by themselves. So undoubtedly, there'll be some gaps due to the budget shortfall, but the mosquito control efforts do go on in most of our communities."