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A deadly brain-swelling illness spread by mosquitoes is on the rise in the US
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- West Nile virus cases have spread across 30 U.S. states this year, causing at least eight deaths and over 180 reported infections, with Arizona and California being the most affected.
- Arizona has reported 73 cases and five deaths, while California has seen 30 cases and three deaths, including a recent hospitalization of a 70-year-old man in Elk Grove.
- Idaho confirmed its first severe case of the season in a 65-year-old resident, prompting health officials to urge protective measures against mosquito bites.
- The virus, transmitted primarily through mosquito bites, can cause severe neurological symptoms and is fatal mainly to those with weakened immune systems; there is no specific treatment available.
- Climate change-driven drought conditions, especially in the western U.S., have contributed to increased virus transmission by concentrating mosquitoes and birds around shrinking water sources, despite some states experiencing lower mosquito populations this summer.
