Will West Nile Virus Disrupt Summer Vacations

West Nile virus WNV) is the most common disease transmitted by mosquitoes in the continental United States, primarily in the south and western states.

According to the U.S. CDC, cases are seasonal, usually beginning in the summer and continuing through the fall.

As of July 1, 2025, the CDC reported 14 states had reported 34 WNV cases this year.

In Texas, 63 contained pools and one WNV infection have been reported in 2025.

In 2024, 1,466 cases were reported in the U.S., with over 1,000 cases involving the nervous system. 

Approximately 1 in 150 people with WNV infections develop severe neuroinvasive disease, characterized by inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and/or the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), says the CDC.

Those with severe or neuroinvasive infection should be hospitalized for close monitoring and supportive treatment.

West Nile virus is usually spread after a mosquito feeds on an infected bird and then bites a human. West Nile virus is not spread from person to person, but it can be transmitted to a fetus during pregnancy or to an infant during breastfeeding.

Since there is currently no vaccine to prevent WNV in 2025, the best way to decrease the risk of acquiring this infection is to protect oneself from mosquito bites. When sleeping outdoors, use a mosquito net to protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Furthermore, the CDC recommends avoiding barehanded contact with dead birds.

As of July 7, 2025, WNV vaccine candidates are continuing to conduct clinical research.