3 cases of West Nile Virus reported in Mecklenburg County
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Mecklenburg Public Health has confirmed three cases of West Nile Virus in the county.
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West Nile is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the contiguous United States, and can cause a variety of symptoms. There is no vaccine or medication specific for the illness.
In July, Public Health announced a pool of mosquitos had tested positive in central Mecklenburg County. Other counties are also reporting increased West Nile activity, according to Mecklenburg Public Health.
There have been 407 cases in the country so far in 2026, and five in North Carolina, according to the CDC. There were more than 2,000 cases in 2025.
A full 80% of those infected may not show symptoms, but 20% have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever with headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, rash or fatigue. West Nile virus can cause severe complications in the form of neuroinvasive disease.
While under 1% of cases develop into neuroinvasive disease, around 10% of those cases are fatal, according to the CDC. The odds of developing the neuroinvasive form are higher in older people and the immunocompromised.
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There were 11 human infections in North Carolina in 2025, according to a map from the CDC.
Mecklenburg Public Health recommended “people take precautions ahead of the holiday weekend to minimize their exposure to mosquitoes during outside activities, especially during morning and evening hours.”
The Charlotte Observer previously covered mosquito-borne diseases in North Carolina. The best ways to combat mosquitos are:
The Mecklenburg Public Health Department also recommends installing or repairing screens on windows and doors.
Parts of this article were previously published in The Charlotte Observer.
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