CDC Warns 48 West Nile Cases Mark Worst Early Season Since 2004
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 1
CDC Warns 48 West Nile Cases Mark Worst Early Season Since 2004
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 1
Summary
At least 48 West Nile cases have been reported so far in 2026—versus a typical 10 by late June—making this the highest count for this point in the year since 2004.
CDC issued the warning ahead of the Fourth of July because outdoor gatherings could raise exposure as mosquito season builds; cases usually peak in August and are mostly reported from June through October.
Twenty-three states are already reporting West Nile activity, the broadest spread recorded over the past decade, adding to concern about an unusually early season.
West Nile is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S., averaging several thousand cases and more than 100 deaths a year; since 1999, it has killed over 3,300 Americans.
No vaccine or disease-specific treatment exists, and the CDC urged people to avoid mosquito bites, noting severe neurologic illness strikes fewer than 1% of infections but risks rise with age and certain health conditions.