28 death have been attributed to West Nile Virus infections in 2015 in California (as of Nov. 1st). This epidemic is on par with 2014’s 31 death from West Nile Virus in California.
West Nile Virus is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flavivirus genus in the Flaviviridae, which also includes Dengue Fever and Yellow fever. No vaccine is currently available for the West Nile Virus. The Dittmer lab continues active research on the pathogenesis of the West Nile Virus.
The Virus is spread through mosquitoes bites. It is found in North-America, Africa, Oceania and West, South and Central Europe. Experts have suggested the recent outbreak in California is due to the drought, causing mosquitoes to move to higher densities of population.