When West Nile virus attacks the brain: Severe cases rise in parts of the US

Healthbeat reports that severe West Nile virus cases are rising in the US, with over 880 infections recorded in 2026. California is heavily impacted, including former CNN correspondent Paul Vercammen. Ryan Amick, a vector ecologist with the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, is monitoring the situation by examining mosquitoes trapped in Wilmington. These severe cases demonstrate the virus's ability to attack the brain, posing a significant health risk in several parts of the country.