The CDC has recorded more than 180 cases<\/a> nationwide so far, with Arizona most heavily impacted with 73 cases and five deaths.<\/p>\n California has seen three deaths from 30 human cases of the brain-swelling illness<\/a>, state data<\/a> shows, three times as many patients as this time in 2025. <\/p>\n Among them is a 70-year-old man recently hospitalized in the community of Elk Grove after receiving a spinal tap, ABC 10<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n \u201cSome bug spray on you, whatever you have to do to cover up and protect yourself. The illness is real,\u201d Jeanetta McDowell, a family member of the patient, told the station.<\/p>\n Idaho<\/a> reported its first case of severe disease<\/a> in a 65-year-old Canyon County resident this week, too.<\/p>\n \u201cThe report of the first severe West Nile virus disease of the season in an Idaho resident is a good reminder for all of us to take protective measures against mosquito bites,\u201d Idaho State Epidemiologist Dr. Christine Hahn cautioned in a Monday release<\/a>.<\/p>\n The virus, which is most commonly contracted through a mosquito bite, causes more than 130 deaths in the contiguous U.S. every year.<\/p>\n West Nile virus cases are typically mild in healthy people, but can be fatal in those with compromised immune systems. <\/p>\n Few details of the California deaths have been released by authorities as yet, but one of the deceased was aged between 80 and 90 and passed away from complications, per the public health department. <\/p>\n Severe cases can lead to a high fever, coma, tremors, vision loss, paralysis and brain and spinal inflammation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> says. There is no treatment available and most cases resolve after rest and fluids.<\/p>\n The majority of cases occur in the summer, when warm and west conditions are at their peak. <\/p>\n While mosquitoes thrive in these conditions, experts say climate change-driven drought in Arizona and across the West has actually helped the disease spread. <\/p>\n Drought means that mosquitoes breed around smaller bodies of water, giving more opportunity for the virus to spread between them.<\/p>\n \u201cDrought conditions can paradoxically increase West Nile virus transmission because it concentrates mosquitoes and birds (West Nile virus is a bird virus, first) around shrinking water sources, increasing transmission risk,\u201d Matthew Aliota, a professor at the University of Minnesota, who specializes in these kinds of viruses, previously told The Independent<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2107865344...jpeg\")
The mosquito-borne West Nile has been detected in 30 states, with deaths recently reported in California (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n![\"This](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/CDC-MAP.jpeg\")
This map from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows where cases of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus are the highest across America right now. Arizona, in the darkest blue, has the most cases, other states in lighter blue have between nine and 25 cases, state in turquoise have between one and five cases and states in grey have yet to report a case (CDC)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2288626579...jpeg\")
The Lake Powell reservoir is seen at record low levels in Page, Arizona, earlier this month. Drought in the state has paradoxically fueled more West Nile cases (Getty)<\/p>\n