LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County health officials confirmed the first West Nile virus death of 2026 this week, a San Fernando Valley resident who died after hospitalization with a severe neurological illness caused by the mosquito-borne virus, as cases in the county and across California climbed above recent averages following an unusually warm winter.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the fatality on Thursday, noting that the individual developed neurological complications from a severe West Nile virus infection. No further details about the resident’s age, gender or specific medical history were released. The department reported 15 documented West Nile virus infections in the county so far this year, excluding Long Beach and Pasadena, which maintain separate health departments. Of those, 14 were symptomatic, with the most recent onset dated Aug. 6. Roughly half of the infected residents lived in the San Fernando Valley.

County figures for human infections this season exceed the five-year average for the same period. Mosquito pools and dead birds have tested positive across multiple areas of Los Angeles County, signaling elevated virus activity that began earlier than typical.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends grieving the loss of a loved one due to West Nile virus,” Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in a statement. “This tragic loss is a reminder of the serious threat posed by mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus and dengue.”

Davis urged residents to take protective steps, including using insect repellent containing DEET, eliminating sources of standing water where mosquitoes breed, and ensuring windows and doors have tight-fitting screens. “Small actions like these can make a big difference in preventing illness,” he said.

The county’s announcement coincided with a California Department of Public Health report that statewide West Nile virus activity has reached its highest level in five years. As of Aug. 14, the state had recorded 30 symptomatic human cases across 13 counties, including three deaths. Positive mosquito pools and dead birds were also reported at levels higher than the five-year average.

Vector control officials attributed the early and widespread activity in part to weather patterns. “After experiencing the warmest winter on record, West Nile virus amplification and consequently detection in Los Angeles County started almost two months early this year, leading to widespread activity countywide,” said Susanne Kluh, general manager of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

Kluh noted that while overall mosquito abundance has been somewhat suppressed in some areas, virus detections remain frequent. Officials continue to urge residents to wear repellent when outdoors, particularly at dawn and dusk when the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus are most active.

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Los Angeles County and has been present in the region since it first emerged in 2004. The virus circulates in birds and is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes. Most people infected with West Nile virus experience no symptoms or only mild ones, such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. A smaller percentage develop severe neuroinvasive disease, which can include encephalitis, meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems face higher risks of serious illness and death.

In 2025, Los Angeles County recorded 22 infections and two deaths. Earlier years showed greater variation, with higher case counts during peak seasons in the mid-2010s. Statewide surveillance this year has shown elevated positivity rates among tested dead birds—around 24 percent compared with a five-year average of 13 percent in some reports—serving as an early warning indicator because birds amplify the virus before it spreads to mosquitoes and people.

The San Fernando Valley has long registered some of the highest rates of West Nile virus activity in the county. Local vector control agencies have detected positive mosquito samples and dead birds in numerous communities throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including parts of the Antelope Valley, where the county’s first human case of the 2026 season was identified in July. That earlier patient, an Antelope Valley resident, was hospitalized with West Nile encephalitis after symptoms began in late June.

Public health and vector control districts emphasize simple prevention measures that residents can take immediately. Removing standing water from flower pots, birdbaths, gutters, unused swimming pools and other containers reduces breeding sites. Maintaining swimming pools and reporting neglected ones to local agencies helps limit mosquito populations. Using EPA-registered insect repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors during peak mosquito hours, and installing or repairing screens provide additional layers of protection.

Officials also encourage the public to report dead birds, which can be tested for the virus and help map areas of higher risk. Dead bird reports and mosquito pool testing form the backbone of surveillance systems that guide targeted control efforts, such as larviciding and adult mosquito treatments in high-activity zones.

California’s overall West Nile virus season typically peaks in August and September. With activity already elevated and transmission continuing, health authorities expect additional cases in the coming weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks West Nile virus nationally and notes that the disease causes more than 100 deaths in the contiguous United States in an average year, with severe cases carrying a fatality rate of roughly 10 percent among those who develop neuroinvasive illness.

In Los Angeles County, the combination of early virus amplification, higher-than-average human infections and the first confirmed death of the season has prompted renewed public messaging. County and state officials continue to monitor mosquito and bird surveillance data closely while coordinating with local vector control districts to reduce mosquito populations in affected neighborhoods.

Residents who develop symptoms consistent with West Nile virus infection, particularly high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, muscle weakness or paralysis, are advised to seek medical attention promptly and inform their health care providers of possible mosquito exposure. There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available for West Nile virus in humans; care focuses on supportive measures for severe cases.

As the peak transmission period continues, public health leaders stress that individual actions remain the most effective tool for reducing risk. By eliminating standing water, using repellent consistently and taking basic outdoor precautions, residents can lower their chances of infection even in a season marked by elevated virus activity.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will continue updating its weekly arboviral disease reports throughout the season. The most recent report, dated Aug. 21, confirmed the 15 infections and single death to date and underscored that the number of infections exceeds historical averages for this point in the year. Statewide figures are expected to rise as testing and reporting continue in the weeks ahead.

Health officials reiterated their condolences to the family of the San Fernando Valley resident while calling on the broader community to remain vigilant. With mosquitoes still active and virus detections ongoing across many parts of the county, the coming weeks will determine the full scale of the 2026 West Nile virus season in Los Angeles County and California.

For NRIs looking to invest Rs 1 crore in India over a 5-7 year horizon, deciding how much to allocate to equities, fixed income, gold and alternatives can be challenging, particularly when existing India exposure and global assets also need to be considered.

In an interaction with Kshitij Anand of ETMarkets, Rohit Sarin, Co-Founder, Client Associates, said NRIs should take a holistic view of their global portfolio, India exposure, liquidity needs, risk appetite and tax situation before investing.

While he favours a meaningful allocation to equities, Sarin suggested an illustrative framework of 55-65% in equities, 15-20% in fixed income, 5-10% in gold and 5-10% in alternatives, with the balance in real assets or other diversifiers. The following are the edited excerpts from the chat:

Q) India continues to attract significant interest from NRIs. What are the biggest hurdles NRIs still face when trying to invest in Indian equities and mutual funds, despite the process becoming increasingly digital?

A) The biggest hurdle is no longer access to India; it is navigating the complexity around access. The digital journey has improved considerably, but NRIs still have to deal with the right account structure, KYC, FEMA requirements, repatriation rules, taxation and documentation across different investments.
For a serious NRI investor, therefore, the challenge is less about being able to buy an Indian equity or mutual fund and more about creating a seamless framework for investing, monitoring and eventually repatriating wealth. This is particularly important for families with significant India exposure, where investments need to be considered as part of the overall global portfolio rather than in isolation.

Q) With the rupee hitting Rs 96 per USD, has it impacted NRI investments into India? What is the general mood?

A) INR depreciation against the USD has been a dampener for NRIs investment into India since that eats into their real returns in USD or the currency of their country of residence. The only solution to that is for an NRI investor to approach their India allocation as a strategic allocation to participate in India’s long term growth story.
Besides that additional benefit could be that India allocation would help to diversify their global portfolio on account of poor correlation of Indian markets with US and other emerging markets.The minimum time horizon which NRIs need to look for India allocation is 10 years to achieve the dual objectives of growth and diversification.

However, NRI investors perception of India remains anchored to the times when they left India for the greener pastures and therefore they come late to the party as a tactical allocation when markets in India have already run up and therefore either the correction in Indian markets of the depreciation of the INR hits them too soon to have a good experience.

Q) For an NRI looking to invest in Indian stocks, how should one decide between an NRE and NRO account? What are the key differences from an investment and repatriation perspective?

A) The choice should primarily be driven by the source of funds and the investor’s repatriation requirements.

Broadly, an NRE account is designed for foreign earnings and offers greater flexibility for repatriation, while an NRO account is typically used for managing income earned in India and has more restrictions around repatriation.

For an NRI investing in Indian securities, the account structure should therefore be decided upfront rather than after the investment has been made. The distinction becomes particularly important when the objective is to eventually move investment proceeds back overseas.

The RBI framework permits NRIs to invest in Indian securities through prescribed routes, with the repatriation treatment depending on the investment and account structure.

For larger portfolios, we would recommend taking a holistic view of the account structure, FEMA requirements, taxation and eventual repatriation before deploying capital.

Q) Are NRIs under-allocated to Indian equities compared with their overall exposure to India? Which asset classes should they consider beyond direct stocks and mutual funds?

A) There is certainly a case for NRIs to look at their India exposure more holistically. Many NRIs already have significant economic exposure to India through family businesses, real estate, employment or other assets. Their financial portfolio should therefore complement, rather than simply replicate, that exposure.

From a financial asset perspective, given the choice of instruments and asset classes available globally for comparable returns in USD the best asset class for NRIs to look at would Indian equities.

Q) Tax is often one of the biggest concerns for NRIs. How should they think about the tax treatment of equity, mutual funds, bonds, FDs and alternative investments in India?

A) Tax should be considered at the portfolio-construction stage, not after an investment has already been made.

The treatment can differ significantly depending on the asset, holding period, nature of income, account structure and the NRI’s country of tax residence. Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement provisions can also become relevant.

Therefore, there is no single “NRI tax rate” that can be applied across equities, mutual funds, bonds, FDs and alternatives. Each asset class needs to be evaluated on its post-tax return, liquidity and repatriation characteristics.

Q) Are you seeing greater interest from NRIs in newer products such as AIFs, PMS, private credit, REITs and InvITs? Which could see the biggest growth in NRI portfolios?

A) We see increasing interest in moving beyond traditional listed equities and mutual funds, particularly among sophisticated NRI investors who are looking for diversification and differentiated sources of return.

AIFs and private credit can be particularly relevant for investors with the appropriate risk appetite and investment horizon, while REITs and InvITs can provide access to real assets without requiring direct ownership.

However, we would not expect one product category to become the universal answer. The growth opportunity will come from greater portfolio diversification, with alternatives being used selectively alongside a strong core allocation.

Q) If an NRI has Rs 1 crore of surplus money to invest in India with a 5–7-year horizon, how would you divide it across equities, fixed income, gold, real estate and alternatives?

A) We would be cautious about giving a single allocation without understanding the individual’s existing global portfolio, India exposure, liquidity requirements, risk tolerance and tax situation.

However, for an investor with a 5–7 year horizon and a moderate-to-high risk appetite, our current stance would support a meaningful allocation towards equities, complemented by diversifiers.

As an illustrative framework rather than a personalised recommendation, one could think about approximately 55–65% in equities, 15–20% in fixed income, 5–10% in gold, 5–10% in alternatives and the balance in real assets or other diversifiers.

The important point is that the allocation should be considered alongside the NRI’s existing exposure to Indian business, real estate and global assets.

This is particularly relevant today because CA remains Overweight on equities but Neutral on fixed income.

Q) Could we see more India-focused global funds or India-domiciled products in GIFT City designed specifically for overseas Indians?

A) Yes, we believe this is an area with significant potential.

The opportunity is to create investment structures that give overseas Indians efficient access to India while reducing some of the administrative and operational complexity associated with investing directly through multiple domestic accounts.

GIFT IFSC is already developing into a broader international investment platform, with products spanning equities, ETFs, debt, AIFs and mutual funds. IFSCA specifically highlights NRI access to Indian and global securities and fund structures through the IFSC.

As the ecosystem matures, we could see more products designed around the specific needs of global Indians, particularly those who want India exposure within a globally integrated portfolio structure.

Q) What new financial product is currently missing from the Indian market that could significantly improve the investment experience for NRIs?

A) I would actually argue that the bigger gap is not necessarily another investment product.

It is a better investment architecture for the global Indian.

An NRI often has assets, liabilities, businesses and family interests spread across India and one or more overseas jurisdictions. What is still missing is a truly integrated solution that can bring together global asset allocation, Indian investments, taxation, currency exposure, liquidity and succession within one coherent framework.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

Bitcoin surged nearly 22.9% in one week to trade near the $78,000 mark as liquidity hopes, ETF inflows boost crypto markets. The cryptocurrency was trading at $777,473 mark.

In the past week, Ethereum was up 29.7%. Among the major altcoins, BNB, XRP, Solana, Tron, Hyperliquid, Dogecoin, and Cardano rallied upto 56.3%. The global crypto market capitalisation went up $2.2 trillion to $2.53 trillion in one week, according to Coingecko.

Also Read | Explained: 5 reasons why skipping SIPs may affect your long-term wealth creation Nischal Shetty, Founder, WazirX said crypto markets recorded a strong weekly recovery as improving liquidity expectations outweighed pressure from elevated oil prices and long-term bond yields. Reduced expectations of further Federal Reserve tightening, Treasury buybacks and a weaker US dollar supported risk appetite.

“Bitcoin moved from a bearish technical setup into a bullish daily structure as buyers cleared the $64,000, $70,000 and $74,000 levels. Crypto ETFs recorded approximately $1.45 billion in net inflows across four consecutive sessions this week, reversing roughly $220 million in outflows during the preceding three sessions”

Shetty further said the strongest daily inflow approached $710 million which sustained return of capital coincided with rising crypto prices, indicating institutional participation and improving market confidence.
In the past 24 hours, Bitcoin was up 2.8% and Ethereum was up 3% to trade at $2,440 mark. Among the major altcoins, BNB, XRP, Solana, Tron, Hyperliquid, Dogecoin, Cardano rallies upto 19.7%. The global crypto market capitalisation went up 3.1% to $2.71 trillion, according to Coingecko.Bitcoin is trading near $78,000 after rising more than 18% from the $63,000 region earlier this week, while Ethereum is near $2,500, said Riya Sehgal, Research Analyst, Delta Exchange.

Strong Bitcoin ETF inflows have supported prices even after more than $4 billion in crypto shorts were liquidated. On-chain data also shows some distribution from long-term Bitcoin holders, so continued selling near higher levels will be worth watching, Sehgal further said.

On Bitcoin crossing $75,000 mark, SB Seker, Head of APAC, Binance said Bitcoin’s move back above the $75,000 mark is a notable sign of renewed participation after a period of heightened volatility and macro uncertainty.

Also Read | HDFC and Axis Mutual Fund resume subscriptions in gold ETFs and gold ETF FoFs

Market perspective

Prateek Gupta, Head of Business, Mudrex

Bitcoin has pushed to around $79,000, continuing to rally supported by Treasury buybacks and Trump’s White House crypto summit. A weekly close near current levels, followed by a monthly close above $80,000, could confirm a sustained rally toward $85,000. Meanwhile, $70,000 remains the key support as break below it could trigger a pullback toward $65,000.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

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