A dead crow collected in Coventry last week has tested positive for the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, the third bird known to have died of the illness this year in Rhode Island.

West Nile virus, which was first found on this continent in 1999, has been progressing as expected this year, said Malcolm Grant, associate director of the state Department of Environmental Management. West Nile causes mild flu-like symptoms in most people who are affected by it, but sometimes can cause a deadly inflammation of the brain, particularly in the elderly.

Last year, the first bird infected with West Nile virus was a crow found in Warwick on Aug. 15. A total of 88 infected birds were identified last year.