Arizona’s hot and dry summer appears to have contributed to fewer virus-carrying mosquitoes than usual so far. However, the monsoon season isn’t over yet, as last night’s storms proved. It’s important to continue thinking about mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus (WNV) as we will likely see an increase in infected mosquitoes. Checking your yard [...]
While the monsoon rain Arizona has seen of late is welcome in so many ways, the standing water that follows – often in places you don’t think about around the yard – can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. The most-common mosquito-borne disease is West Nile virus. Most of those [...]
Spring brings with it many beautiful things. Wildflowers. Blooms on saguaro cactus. Warmer weather in mountainous areas that have been cold and snowy during the winter. Spring and summer also give rise to mosquitoes. That calls for some care when you get out to enjoy the flowers and great weather, and when you tend to [...]
Amid a wetter monsoon season than recent years, Arizona is experiencing a record high season for the West Nile virus, which transmits through mosquito bites. Through late last week, Arizona had seen 123 cases and four deaths. Nearly all of them have been in Maricopa County, where West Nile virus has been detected in record [...]
It’s been an active Arizona monsoon so far, and that means it’s also time to be thinking about mosquitoes and guarding against West Nile virus. West Nile, the most common mosquito-borne disease in Arizona, causes symptoms in about 20% of those infected ranging from fever, headaches, and body aches to, in rare cases, inflammation of [...]
Think it’s too hot for mosquitoes? Think again! Arizona is home to several mosquito species, including the Culex species that can carry West Nile virus and Saint Louis Encephalitis virus. West Nile virus causes symptoms in about 20% of infected people, which can range from fever, headaches, and body aches, to more serious things like [...]
Monsoon season is fast-approaching and with it thunderstorm activity that will continue through September, during which more than half of Arizona’s yearly rainfall will occur. You and your family will be able to enjoy some great views of Arizona’s extreme weather, but it is also important to be aware that thunderstorms may result in alerts for flash flooding, high winds, and lightning. This [...]
While some mosquitoes can be active throughout the year in parts of Arizona, peak season is usually April through October. So as we head into the warmer months, public health and vector control professionals have been attending training to ensure they are prepared to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile and Zika [...]
Last summer Arizona had an outbreak of St. Louis encephalitis virus, which is similar to West Nile virus. Both are spread most commonly by the bite of an infected mosquito, but other possible routes of infection include organ transplants, blood transfusions, or needle sticks in laboratories. Public health was notified that one person in Arizona [...]
Mosquito season is upon us, which means it’s time to find ways to prevent and control mosquitoes around your home. Let’s all mark National Mosquito Control Awareness Week this week by protecting our families and communities from mosquito-borne disease. Arizona is home to more than 40 different types of mosquitoes, including the Culex and Aedes [...]
