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NYC has already seen more West Nile Virus human cases this year than in all of 2025

Gothamist • September 18, 2026 • health

Key Points:

New York City has reported 23 confirmed cases of West Nile Virus this year, surpassing last year's total of 18 cases, with infections spread across all five boroughs.
Of the 23 cases, 18 are classified as West Nile neuroinvasive disease, the more severe form, while 5 cases involve milder West Nile fever without central nervous system involvement.
City health officials note that most infected individuals do not develop symptoms or have mild illness and thus may not seek testing, meaning actual infections are likely much higher than reported.
Over 1,600 mosquito pools in NYC have tested positive for the virus this year, a record number attributed to climate change factors like warmer temperatures and increased rainfall that favor mosquito proliferation.
Residents, especially older adults and those with chronic conditions, are advised to take precautions such as using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, avoiding outdoor activity during peak mosquito hours, and eliminating standing water to reduce mosquito breeding.

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