Mar 26, 2025 - News
Mapped: West Nile cases
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Texas had the most cases of the West Nile virus in humans last year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
Why it matters: Mosquito-borne illnesses are on the rise as winters get more mild and summers are longer and hotter.
The big picture: Texas reported 176 cases of the virus in humans in 2024. California had the second most with 123, per the CDC.
- Most of the 1,466 cases reported nationwide were the more serious neuroinvasive disease.
Threat level: About 20% of people infected with the virus develop symptoms, which are similar to the flu. Most likely never know they were infected.
- 1 in 150 people infected develop the more serious neuroinvasive disease, which can cause inflammation to the brain. About 10% of the people who develop the more serious disease die.
What's next: Mosquitoes can be present all year in Texas but are most prevalent during the warm summer months beginning in May.