PHOENIX – Maricopa County health officials are alerting the community to the West Nile virus after a “significant increase” in the number of cases since last year.
The Department of Public Health says that by 2020 only three cases of West Nile virus were reported in humans and one death. So far this year, the county has confirmed 36 human cases, including one death. Note: Maricopa County data was not readily available for 2019, but the county recorded 24 WNV cases in 2018, including six deaths. In 2017, 93 cases were recorded, including six deaths. In 2016, 63 cases and five deaths were recorded. See more details here.
Officials say the person who died was an older adult who had other health conditions.
The West Nile is usually spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
According to reports, the Maricopa County Department of Environmental Services has experienced a nearly 400% increase in West Nile virus mosquito samples positive compared to last year.
RELATED: Wet monsoon is not the only reason to increase mosquitoes in the valley, experts say
ABC15 also met with Vector Control in Maricopa County to talk about mosquitoes. The county gets a lot of calls from people who complain about them.
Uptick on mosquitoes due to the monsoon season in the Valley
They have about a thousand traps scattered throughout the valley to get an idea of how bad a neighborhood is. Once trapped and transferred to the county lab, diseases are counted and analyzed.
According to health officials, West Nile virus can cause serious illness, but only about one-fifth of people with the infection will show symptoms.
Symptoms include:
- Most common: flu (fever, headache, body aches, muscle weakness)
- More serious infections: stiff neck, loss of vision, paralysis, neurological symptoms
- Rare: encephalitis or meningitis (approximately 1 in 50 people can develop it)
Those over the age of 60, have underlying medical conditions, or a depressed immune system have a higher risk of more serious West Nile infections.
“We all need to do our part to protect ourselves, our family and our neighborhoods from mosquito-borne diseases,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director of the Department of Disease Control’s Department of Disease Control. Maricopa County Public Health, in a press release. . “With so much rain this summer, we all need to consider removing stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed, such as pet dishes, potted plants and even toys.”
Ways to avoid mosquito bites:
- Avoid mosquito bites day and night
- Use insect repellents that contain DEET, Picaridine, or other EPA-registered repellents according to the product label on exposed skin and clothing.
- Drain and remove containers containing water around the house where mosquitoes can reproduce, such as plastic lids, buckets, old tires, plant trays, pet bowls, toys, and boats.
- Scrape the sides of the dish or inside potted plants where mosquitoes lay their eggs
- Make sure the doors and windows have tight, hole-free screens that are closed
- If it’s not too hot, wear light clothing that covers your arms and legs
- Make sure that the pools and the decorative elements of the water are properly maintained