The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in early July 2026 that the United States has recorded its highest number of early-season West Nile virus cases since 2004, with 23 states already reporting. The agency repeated its standing advice on long loose clothing, DEET-based repellent and the removal of standing water. In Europe, the ECDC Week 26 report recorded three autochthonous West Nile virus cases in Italy and North Macedonia, while mainland France recorded none.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported new figures in the first week of July 2026. The United States has recorded its highest number of early-season West Nile virus cases since 2004, according to the agency. Twenty-three states are already reporting cases. The agency timed its advisory to the Fourth of July weekend and repeated its standing guidance. It advises long loose clothing, DEET-based repellent, and the removal of standing water. The Associated Press, the WILX Gray Television syndication and the major US networks carried the comparison within 24 hours.
What the CDC reported
The 2026 season has produced more early-season cases than any year since 2004, according to the agency. The 23-state figure shows that the virus is present across a wide area of the country, not in a single regional cluster.
The CDC repeated the same guidance it gives every season. People should wear long, loose clothing. They should use a DEET-based repellent according to the label. They should remove standing water where mosquitoes breed. None of the measures is new, and each one is available to a household now.
What European surveillance shows
European surveillance covers West Nile virus separately. The ECDC published its weekly report for Week 26 on 26 June 2026, with data to 24 June. It recorded three autochthonous cases in two countries. Italy reported cases in the province of Caserta and in the metropolitan area of Firenze. North Macedonia reported one case in the Vardarski region. Autochthonous means the person was infected locally, not while travelling.
Santé publique France reported a different position in its national arboviroses bulletin of 1 July 2026, which covers the period to 28 June. Mainland France recorded no autochthonous chikungunya, dengue, Zika or West Nile virus cases. The same bulletin recorded 62 imported chikungunya cases and 189 imported dengue cases since 1 May 2026.
Two recent papers add context for Europe. Jourdan et al. published a French seroprevalence baseline in Eurosurveillance on 1 July 2026. The baseline showed that West Nile virus had circulated in southern France and Ile-de-France before any autochthonous human case was identified. Patzina-Mehling et al. showed in Nature Communications on 12 June 2026 that Berlin amplifies the virus locally at the urban micro-habitat scale.
What the advice is
US reporting has recorded local detections as well as the national total. Sacramento County reported California's first human case of the 2026 season on 2 to 3 July. Long Island reported its first detection of the season in a mosquito sample from Dix Hills on 3 July, according to Newsday.
The practical advice does not depend on the case count in any one state. Households can reduce exposure by wearing long, loose clothing. They can use a DEET-based repellent according to the label. They can remove standing water from containers, gutters and drains every week. Screening windows and doors adds a physical barrier that does not need reapplying.
The ECDC publishes a weekly West Nile virus report. The next edition was due after 3 July 2026.
Published 2026-07-04 · Mosticare Editorial
This article is general information, not medical advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own health.