BUTTE COUNTY, Calif . - West Nile virus season is at its peak, and Butte County has seen 11 mosquito pools test positive. Four were in Biggs, four in Gridley, one in Palermo, one in Honcut, and the furthest north was between Chico and Oroville.

In addition to mosquitoes, two test coops revealed six chickens tested positive, with five in Palermo and one in Honcut. While most positive tests are in southern Butte County, the virus is also present in Chico and Hamilton City, said Matt Ball, district manager at Butte County Mosquito Vector Control.

"This is actually way below what we normally see this time of year due to the cooler summer," Ball said.

Despite the lower numbers, some people infected with the virus experience flu-like symptoms, and even healthy people in their 30s and 40s are

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