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Record number of West Nile virus cases since 2004, CDC warns ahead of holiday weekend

A Culex mosquito, primary vectors for several viral and parasitic diseases inside a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, March 3, 2026. (Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) — A record number of West Nile virus cases have been recorded for this time of year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming holiday weekend.

At least 48 cases of West Nile have been reported so far this year compared to an average of 10 typically by the end of June. This is the highest number of infections reported at this point in year since 2004, according to the federal health agency.

Additionally, at least 23 states are reporting West Nile activity, which is the highest number recorded over the last 10 years, CDC data shows.

The illness is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the contagious U.S., with several thousand cases and over 100 deaths reported on average each year.

With millions gathering outside for Fourth of July, the CDC is urging Americans to take precautions and reduce their risk of mosquito bites.

Since 1999, the disease has killed more than 3,300 Americans. Cases have historically peaked in August and are mostly reported from June through October.

While many people infected do not develop symptoms, about one in five do. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the CDC.  Most symptoms soon disappear, though weakness and fatigue may last for weeks or months.

Fewer than 1% of people infected develop severe illness that affects the central nervous system, including inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), the CDC says.

Risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death increase with older age; certain medical conditions including cancer, high blood pressure and kidney disease; and a weakened immune system.

There are currently no vaccines for West Nile virus, nor disease-specific treatments. The CDC recommends rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications to treat the infection. Those with severe illness may need to be hospitalized and receive additional support treatments, such as intravenous fluids.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Powerball hits $1 billion for tonight’s drawing, the biggest US lottery jackpot of the year

By CNN
(CNN) — The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1 billion after no ticket won the grand prize Monday night, marking the first billion-dollar Powerball jackpot since a player in Arkansas took home $1.8 billion on Christmas Eve last year.Wednesday night’s drawing will be the 44th consecutive drawing in the current jackpot run, and the prize ranks as the eighth-largest in Powerball history, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association, which administers the game.The winning numbers from Monday night’s drawing were 6, 37, 54, 55 and 64, and a red Powerball 10, with a Power Play multiplier of 3.If a player hits the jackpot Wednesday, they can choose between an annuitized prize estimated at $1 billion, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump sum payment estimated at $433.1 million. Both figures are before taxes. Some states, including Florida, Texas and Tennessee, do not tax lottery winnings, and most Powerball and other major lottery winners choose the lump sum over annuity payments.Although no one won the $905 million jackpot Monday, some ticket holders still won sizable prizes, according to Powerball. One ticket sold in Tennessee matched all five white balls and included the Power Play option to win $2 million. Two other tickets, sold in California and Maryland, matched the five white numbers to win the $1 million Match 5 prize. In California, the payout can vary based on ticket sales and the number of winners.The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million. For perspective, a person has a better chance of being struck by lightning in a given year — a 1 in 1.22 million chance, according to the National Weather Service. The odds of being killed by a shark over a lifetime are roughly 1 in 4.3 million, according to the International Shark Attack File.No one has won the grand prize in more than three months, since two players in Florida and Texas split a $20 million prize on May 2.The size of this jackpot is no anomaly. Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots have grown larger over the past several years, driven by game redesigns that lengthened the odds of winning, more frequent drawings and an expanded player pool.Three winners in Florida, California and Tennessee became the first to claim a jackpot over $1 billion when they split a $1.586 billion Powerball prize in 2016.The largest Powerball prize on record — $2.04 billion — was won in California in 2022. Last year’s $1.8 billion Arkansas jackpot ranks second.Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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