The number of human West Nile virus cases so far this year in California is double the 2013 numbers, according to new data released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

The CDPH reports the addition of 73 WNV cases during the past week, bringing the total number of cases to 311 from 28 counties. During the same period in 2013, California reported 150 human cases and has seen a five year average of 95 cases.

The following counties reported cases during the past week: Colusa (1), Fresno (2), Glenn (2), Los Angeles (20), Mendocino (1), Orange (31), Placer (2), Sacramento (3), San Bernardino (3), San Joaquin (1), Santa Clara (1), Shasta (1), Stanislaus (1), Tehama (1), Tulare (2), and Yolo (1).

To date, Orange County has reported more than a third of all cases with 116. That is more than any of the other 49 states reported as of Sept. 9, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers.

In addition, there has been 12 WNV-related fatalities have been reported in to CDPH from in eight local health jurisdictions: Glenn (1), Long Beach City (1), Los Angeles (1), Orange (3), Sacramento (1), Shasta (1), Stanislaus (2), and Sutter (2). For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page