Butte County Department of Public Health announces first human West Nile Virus infection

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – The Butte County Department of Public Health announced the first confirmed human West Nile Virus infection in Butte County for the 2023 season.

The department said as of Aug. 4, eight human WNV infections have been confirmed in California. WNV is usually active from June through October, with August typically being the peak month in Butte County.

The Butte County Department of Public Health wants to remind people to protect themselves from WNV by reducing mosquitoes on their property and preventing mosquito bites.

The department said people with WNV generally fall into three categories:

• Asymptomatic (8 in 10 people)
• Mild to moderate fever illness with fatigue and body aches (1 in 5 people)
• Severe illness with neurologic symptoms such as encephalitis or meningitis (less than 1 in 150 people). For those who develop a severe WNV illness, symptoms may last several weeks and some symptoms may be permanent.