Butte County Department of <a href="https://healthylife7.com/measles-cases-rising-in-rural-new-york-says-jefferson-co-public-health/” title=”Measles cases rising in rural New York, says Jefferson Co. Public Health”>Public Health confirms second West Nile virus death of 2026
Wed, August 26, 2026 at 4:20 PM
FILE — Outside of the Butte County Public Health Department off of Oleander Avenue in Chico, Butte County, CA. (KRCR)
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. —Butte County Public Health (BCPH) announced Wednesday the county’s second West Nile virus-related death of 2026
On Aug. 26, 2026, the BCPH announced the confirmation that a person between the ages of 70 and 80 died from complications related to the West Nile Virus
The death comes as West Nile Virus activity continues to increase across Butte County and California. As of August 21, 2026, 46 human WNV infections and five deaths have been confirmed in California
Butte County health officials say West Nile virus activity remains high locally, with the county accounting for about a quarter of California’s reported cases so far this year
“At this time, human West Nile virus infections are increasing, as they typically do in August, and our local case count is not outside the range of what we’ve seen during past seasons. However, roughly one-quarter of the WNV cases reported in California this year are in Butte County, which tells us the virus is very active in our community,” said Dr. Jarett Beaudoin, Butte County Public Health Officer. “The announcement of our second WNV-related death is a stark reminder that mosquitoes can be deadly.”
Butte County Public Health has not released the name of the person who died
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