Central Valley Daily

Sept. 22: Central Valley Health Officials Fight Surge In West Nile Virus Cases

By Soreath Hok,

Published September 22, 2026 at 4:45 AM PDT

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West Nile virus cases are surging in California. Health experts say there’s not one clear reason, though a wet winter, warm spring and changing immunity in wild birds are partly to blame. KVPR’s Samantha Rangel rides along with mosquito abatement officials as they fight to control the spread.

Plus, the latest news headlines: Gov. Newsom declares emergency ahead of El Nino; and two pilots die fighting fire near Yosemite National Park. Today’s episode is hosted by Soreath Hok and produced by Jonathan Linden.

Central Valley Daily

Soreath Hok

Soreath Hok is a multimedia journalist with experience in radio, television and digital production. She is a 2022 National Edward R. Murrow Award winner. At KVPR, she is currently the local host of KVPR's Central Valley Daily podcast.

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Samantha Rangel

Samantha Rangel reports on stories for KVPR in the Fresno and Clovis areas. After growing up in the town of Firebaugh, Samantha earned her B.A. in Media, Communications, and Journalism from California State University, Fresno. Her previous work can also be found in The Westside Express, her college paper, The Collegian, NPR, and The California Report.

The best way to reach her is at srangel@kvpr.org or 559-862-2397.

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Jonathan Linden

Jonathan Linden is a podcast producer at KVPR. Born and raised in Riverside, he's a Southern California native. Jonathan's passion for public radio began at a young age when his brother would play NPR while driving him home from middle school. He earned his B.A. in journalism from Biola University in 2019.

See stories by Jonathan Linden