Kern County Public Health has confirmed the county's first human case of West Nile virus this year.The virus spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito and is most common during the summer and early fall.Health officials s ay about 1 in 5 people infected will develop symptoms, which can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea or a rash. Fewer than 1% develop a severe neurological illness.Kern County reported 21 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in 2025.Public health officials are reminding residents to remove standing water around their homes, use insect repellent, and limit time outdoors around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.Stay in Touch with Us Anytime, Anywhere: Download Our Free App for Apple and Android Sign Up for Our Daily E-mail Newsletter Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Instagram Subscribe to Us on YouTube ...read more read less