CDC warns early West Nile virus surge across the United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed at least 48 West Nile virus cases in the United States as of June 30, 38 of them classified as neuroinvasive and severe. The season is the earliest and most intense since 2004, with 23 states reporting infections – the highest number in a decade. Most cases are concentrated in Arizona, where 29 of the state’s 32 cases occurred in Maricopa County and four deaths have been recorded.

CDC experts urged the public to use DEET‑based insect repellent, eliminate standing water, install or repair window screens, wear long, loose‑fitting clothing, and avoid outdoor activity at dusk and dawn. “These findings serve as an important reminder that mosquito season is well underway,” said Dr. Erin Staples, a CDC insect‑borne disease specialist. Maricopa County health official Melissa Kretschmer added, “Even an overturned bottle cap can hold enough water for mosquitoes to breed.”

West Nile virus, first identified in the United States in 1999, peaked in 2003 with nearly 10,000 cases. Over the past decade an average of 2,000 cases are reported annually, including about 1,200 neuroinvasive illnesses and roughly 100 deaths. People over 60 and those with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk of severe complications such as meningitis or encephalitis.