SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — With Arizona having confirmed its first West Nile virus fatality of 2026, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services is cautioning the public to take proper action to stay safe.
The severity of West Nile virus cases can range from mild to severe in humans. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 80% of those infected remain asymptomatic, 20% develop flu-like symptoms, and fewer than 1% of cases result in serious hospitalization or death.
While Utah has not yet had any activity in 2026, Kacy Nowak, an epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), said that the rise in cases in neighboring states could be a sign of what’s to come…