Long Beach confirms first 2026 human West Nile case—how to prevent bites

Long Beach CA officials confirmed the city’s first human West Nile virus (WNV) case for the 2026 summer season on June 26, 2026. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services said the patient was hospitalized with neuroinvasive illness and is recovering at home.

With mosquito season in full swing, the city is urging residents—especially people at higher risk—to prevent mosquito bites and to seek medical care right away if symptoms appear.

What Long Beach confirmed this week

In its press release dated June 26, 2026, the City of Long Beach reported:

• This is the first symptomatic human WNV case reported in California for the 2026 season.
• The patient was hospitalized with neuroinvasive illness and is recovering at home.

The city also said WNV-positive mosquito detections have been found in California, including in Long Beach, but this confirmed human case is the first symptomatic one reported for the 2026 season.

How WNV spreads, and when symptoms may show up

Long Beach’s health materials say WNV spreads when an infected mosquito bites a person. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, and can then spread the virus when they bite humans.

Long Beach also emphasizes that WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing, or by breathing in the virus.

Infected people may develop symptoms 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Who should be extra cautious—and warning signs

Long Beach’s guidance says people who are over 55 and people with chronic health conditions are at higher risk for severe illness.

Long Beach advises anyone who develops concerning symptoms to seek immediate medical care.

Possible WNV symptoms listed by the city include:

• Common symptoms: fever, body aches, rash, nausea, vomiting and headache
• Severe neurologic symptoms (in a small number of infected people): high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness

Sources

• City of Long Beach press release (Public Information Office / Health Department), 6/26/2026
• CBS Los Angeles: Long Beach officials confirm first California human West Nile case of 2026 (published June 27, 2026)