The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this year’s West Nile virus season could be among the worst in 20 years, based on reporting from the end of June.
The agency confirmed at least 48 cases across 23 states, 35 of which it says originated in Arizona. The majority of these cases were in Maricopa County, and five were fatal. That’s more than at this time last year — and much more than in any other state.
One factor is that 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.
Will Humble, executive director at the Arizona Public Health Association, joined “Arizona Horizon” to give us more insight into the virus’s surge.
