Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said this year’s West Nile virus season could be among the worst in 20 years, based on reporting from the end of June 2026.
Will Humble, Executive Director at the Arizona Public Health Association, joined “Arizona Horizon” to give us more insight into the virus’ surge.
CDC confirmed at least 48 cases across 23 states, 35 of which it said originated in Arizona. The majority of these cases were in Maricopa County, and five were fatal. That’s more than this time last year, and much more than in any other state.
One factor is Arizonans may downplay their risk of catching the virus. Most residents are more concerned with applying sunscreen than thinking about bug repellent. Likewise, Arizona has many sources where mosquitoes can breed: irrigation systems, flower pots, old tires that may be sitting in an alleyway or in a trash heap.
Humble said a lot of those who contract the West Nile virus do not have symptoms.
“Twenty percent of infections will result in feeling bad, fever. But you can’t really attribute it, you know, you’re feeling down, but you don’t have any neurological symptoms or anything like that,” Humble said.
Humble noted 1% of the infections can have bad “neuroinvasive disease” that can be lethal, reiterating in Maricopa County there have been five deaths that have been linked to West Nile virus.
More robust monsoons can also lead to a growth in the breeding of mosquitoes. Humble shared when he believes this uptake in mosquitos lingering around could end this year.
“If the monsoon picks up, this could last all the way through October. If the monsoon fades like it almost always does it seems like, at least in my neighborhood, then we’re probably going to be done, September,” Humble said.
