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A deadly brain-swelling illness spread by mosquitoes is on the rise in the US
Yahoo News Canada • • health
Key Points:
- West Nile virus cases have spread across 30 U.S. states this year, resulting in at least eight deaths and over 180 reported infections, with Arizona hardest hit by 73 cases and five fatalities.
- California has reported 30 cases and three deaths, marking a threefold increase in patients compared to the same period in 2025, including a recent severe case in Elk Grove.
- Idaho recorded its first severe West Nile virus case this season, prompting health officials to urge protective measures against mosquito bites.
- The virus, transmitted mainly through mosquito bites, can cause severe neurological symptoms and is fatal primarily for individuals with weakened immune systems; no specific treatment exists.
- Experts link the virus’s spread to climate change-driven drought, which concentrates mosquitoes and birds around shrinking water sources, enhancing transmission risk despite lower mosquito numbers in some states.
