An additional human West Nile virus (WNV) fatality in Orange County, CA, the county’s 7th death, brings the state’s total to 24 for 2014, according to data from The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today.

West Nile virus
Culex quinquefasciatus
Image/CDC

In 2014, California has reported WNV deaths from the following local health jurisdictions: Glenn (1), Long Beach City (2), Los Angeles (3), Orange (7), Placer (1), Sacramento (2), San Diego(1), Shasta (1), Stanislaus (2), Sutter (3), and Tehama (1).

Nationally, as of Nov.4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of 66 fatalities.

During the past week, California health officials reported an additional 28 new WNV human cases from the following counties: Butte (1), Fresno (1), Kern (1), Los Angeles (21), Orange (2), San Bernardino (1), and Sutter (1). This brings the state’s total number of cases to 733.

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. For most people, the risk of serious illness is low. However, some individuals – less than one percent – can develop a serious neurologic illness, such as encephalitis or meningitis. People 50 years of age or older and people with diabetes and/or high blood pressure have the greatest risk of developing serious complications.

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