FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — West Nile has been confirmed to be in both Fresno and Kings Counties.
Both departments of health confirmed a positive infection of the West Nile virus through routine testing of blood from a donor.
According to the California Department of Public Health, as of July 24th there have been five human WNV cases in California in 2026.
In 2025, there were a total of 128 reported human WNV cases in California, including 11 deaths.
Since WNV was first introduced into California in 2003, there have been more than 8,000 human WNV cases and more than 400 WNV-related deaths across the state.
There is currently no vaccine available for the virus.
Most people who are infected with WNV have no symptoms or only mild non-specific flu-like illness.
However, in some individuals, especially the elderly, the disease can cause severe neurologic illness.
Symptoms of severe disease include fever, headache, stiff neck, rash, joint pain, disorientation, and altered level of consciousness.
While most infections are mild, severe cases can lead to permanent neurological complications such as long-term cognitive impairment, paralysis, or other disabling conditions.
In rare situations, West Nile virus can be fatal, underscoring the importance of taking simple preventive measures.
To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and contracting WNV, residents are urged to take the following precautions:
Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535 according to label directions, especially at dawn and dusk when the mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active.Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes and repair or replace screens that have holes.Eliminate standing water and containers that can hold water from around the home.Contact your local Mosquito Abatement District to report poorly maintained swimming pools or water features that appear green.