The Pinal County Public Health Services District has detected West Nile Virus positive mosquitoes in the area.
The District is urging residents to be vigilant in preventing mosquito breeding and mosquito bites especially in light of monsoon rains.
Chris Reimus, who manages the County’s Environmental Health program said, “Last year we had a significant West Nile Virus season in Pinal County and statewide. This year, things have progressed more slowly, but it is still important to be vigilant to protect our community. Our program focuses on surveillance and source reduction of mosquito breeding areas. If everyone does their share to reduce mosquito breeding in the community, it can go a long way to protect our citizens and their families from disease.”
Pinal County Environmental Health’s vector control program staff do regular surveillance throughout the county looking for the specific mosquitoes associated with human disease. This mosquito surveillance data is then used to guide PCPHSD’s disease prevention efforts and help reduce the risk of mosquito borne disease to Pinal County residents and visitors.
Not everyone who gets mosquito borne diseases has symptoms, but for those who do, some may experience lasting or permanent effects and in the worst cases, the diseases can be fatal.
The District is offering suggestions for preventing mosquito borne disease:
- If you have a swimming pool, keep it operational. If you must keep it out of use, make sure you remove the standing water, keep it chlorinated, or run the filter daily.
- Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Check for items outside the home that collect water, such as cans, bottles, jars, buckets, old tires, drums and other containers and get rid of them. Change water in flower vases, bird baths, planters, troughs, and animal watering pans at least twice a week.
- Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and move air conditioner drain hoses frequently to prevent standing water.
- Take extra care to use insect repellent and protective clothing. Even a short time being outdoors can be long enough to get a mosquito bite. When outdoors, use an EPA-registered and CDC approved insect repellent.
- Keep mosquitoes outside by having well-fitting screens on both windows and doors.