California Reports 30 West Nile Cases and 3 Deaths as Infections Triple
Updated
Updated · Patch · Aug 19
California Reports 30 West Nile Cases and 3 Deaths as Infections Triple
3 articles · Updated · Patch · Aug 19
Summary
Three Californians have died this month as West Nile virus infections climbed to at least 30 cases across 14 counties this year, prompting a statewide warning from health officials.
Cases are running about triple the level seen at the same point in the previous five years, with many infections classified as neuroinvasive and capable of causing encephalitis and brain swelling.
California has also logged 373 dead birds, 53 infected sentinel chickens and 5 infected horses, underscoring how widely the mosquito-borne virus is circulating.
More than 180 U.S. cases and 8 deaths have been reported this season, including 73 cases and 5 deaths in Arizona, as summer and early fall mosquito activity drives broader spread.