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

By WTOP Staff
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.

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Vance, Caine raised munitions stockpile concern, source says, as US pauses consecutive nights of strikes in Iran

(CNN) — Vice President JD Vance and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine both raised concerns about the US munitions stockpile to President Donald Trump as he weighed potentially escalating the war with Iran during a White House meeting on Friday, a US official told CNN.On Friday night, the US appeared to pause its bombing campaign on Iran after nearly two weeks of consecutive nights of strikes. Operations are “on a hold,” a Department of Defense source told CNN on Saturday.It’s currently unclear if the stockpile concern was the primary reason why the US paused consecutive nights of strikes or whether it will continue to do so.“President Trump has always been consistent in saying he prefers a diplomatic solution, but he continues to retain all options if Iran continues terrorist activities in the (Strait) of Hormuz or against allies,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement.“Combined with successful sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy and 13 straight days of strikes against military targets in response to their repeated aggression, it would be wise for Iran to work towards a negotiated deal. Otherwise, they know what will happen.”CNN has also reached out to Vance’s office for comment.This comes as key US weapons stockpiles remain significantly depleted and could come under more pressure if strikes on Iran continue, as CNN has previously reported.Speaking to reporters after the Friday meeting with Cabinet members and top advisors, Trump stressed that the US officials were actively negotiating with Iran, though he also said it was possible the military could continue its bombing campaign or “make it a heavier dose.” He claimed Iran seemed to be getting “more serious” in ongoing talks.As of Friday afternoon, the Trump administration was still deliberating over what a potential escalation would look like, according to a source familiar. Gulf countries have urged restraint in recent conversations with administration officials but acknowledged the US has unique capabilities it could use to escalate the conflict if it chooses to do so, the source said.Even after Trump said he was considering a massive attack against Iran this week, he had privately directed his negotiators to “keep talking,” according to a source familiar with the matter, underscoring how the president has been grappling with the reality of limited escalatory military operations short of putting US troops on the ground.Few within Trump’s inner circle, or inside the Pentagon, believed the president’s options for escalating would yield the results he was looking for, according to multiple sources.CNN has also reported that before the war began, Caine and other military leaders had warned Trump that a protracted military campaign could impact US weapons stockpiles.“America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to CNN.“We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests.”The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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