SAN DIEGO -- A 46-year-old Escondido man and an 80-year-old Poway woman are the latest San Diego County residents to contract West Nile virus, it was announced Tuesday.

The man has been discharged from a hospital after being diagnosed with West Nile virus-related meningitis, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

The woman remains hospitalized with encephalitis, according to the HHSA.

There have now been 34 human cases of the mosquito-borne disease in San Diego County this year, according to the HHSA.

A total of 15 people tested positive for West Nile virus locally during all of last year, according to the HHSA.

So far this year, 549 dead birds and five horses have also tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the HHSA.

County health officials said residents can protect against West Nile virus by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants when outdoors and ensuring screens are tightly secured.