Phoenix (ECN) - The first death from the West Nile virus in 2008 in the U.S. has been confirmed in Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Health Services reported on Thursday that a woman, who was over the age of 80, has died from the West Nile virus.

She was from the Phoenix area, and died after contracting the mosquito-borne illness.

Those at greatest risk of West Nile include young and elderly people.

In 2007, the CDC reported that 124 deaths linked directly to West Nile virus.