California health officials say 28 people have died from West Nile virus so far this year. That’s three fewer deaths than 2014, which was a record year in California for deaths related to the virus.
According to the latest data from the state Department of Public Health, one of the 28 deaths this year occurred in the North State. It was in Butte County, which has seen 57 cases of the virus this year. The other deaths have mostly occurred in southern California counties: Kern 1, Los Angeles 8, Nevada 1, Orange 3, Riverside 6, San Bernardino 2, San Diego 5, and Ventura 1.
In the North State, Butte County has seen the most cases of the virus. Glenn County follows with 21 reported cases. Other North State counties that have reported human cases are Colusa 1, Shasta 3, Siskiyou 1, Sutter 2, Tehama 7 and Yuba 7.
As of Friday, 517 people in 33 counties had tested positive for West Nile virus. Officials said the majority of the 28 people who succumbed to the disease were seniors who have an increased risk of getting sick and developing complications.