Kern County Public Health announced that the first human case of West Nile Virus has been reported in Kern for 2020.

West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes that most often spreads to people during the summer and early fall when the mosquitoes that carry the virus are most active.

Up to 20% of people who become infected with West Nile Virus will have symptoms that may include fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, nausea, vomiting and sometimes a skin rash. Less than 1% will develop severe illness where the virus can affect the brain and/or nervous system.