With his teeshirt over his head to protect against mosquito bites, Charles Tucker walks through cre

With his teeshirt over his head to protect against mosquito bites, Charles Tucker walks through creek in the Yosemite Valley on 06/27/2005. The West Nile virus is off to a slow start in California despite concerns earlier this year from health officials that the record rains would result swell the virus–carrying mosquito population. West Nile hit the region hard last year, resulting in 28 deaths and 830 human infections. Experts have long predicted that the second year of the virus would be less severe in California because human built up immunities to the virus. Still, officials said a cooler than expected spring and early summer have resulted in fewer cases than expected. So far, there are 10 reported human cases statewide, compared 24 during the same period last year. (Photo by Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)