Pinal County resident tests positive for first West Nile virus case of season

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (KVOA) – The first case of West Nile virus of the season in a resident of Pinal County was seen on Tuesday.

Back on July 15th, the Pinal County Public Health Service District announced that its mosquito surveillance program observed the first mosquitoes of the season that tested positive for West Nile virus in Pial County that week.

More than a month later, the department shared that it observed its first human case of the year of the virus on Tuesday. According to authorities, “about 20% develop minor symptoms such as headache, fever, muscle and joint pain, nausea and fatigue. In a very small proportion, less than one percent, the virus affects the nervous system, resulting in more serious illness. “

The county has published the following tips to help people avoid contracting the virus during this time:

To help prevent mosquitoes and mosquito bites:

• If you have a swimming pool, keep it operational. If you need to keep it out of use, be sure to remove standing water, keep it chlorinated, or run the filter every day.
• Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Look for objects outside the house that collect water, such as cans, bottles, jars, buckets, old tires, barrels, and other containers, and dispose of them.
• Change the water in flower vases, birdbaths, planters, troughs and animal waterers at least twice a week. Be sure to scrub them when you change the water.
• Repair leaky hoses and outdoor faucets and move the air conditioner drain hoses frequently to avoid standing water.
• Even spending a little time outdoors can be long enough to be bitten by a mosquito. Be very careful to use insect repellent and protective clothing. Outdoors, use an insect repellent registered by the EPA and approved by the CDC.
• Keep mosquitoes outside by installing tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.

In addition, residents must do the following

• CARRY long sleeves and pants. Create a barrier against mosquito bites by covering yourself up
• APPLY insecticide. Use Repellents registered by the EPA such as those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, lemon eucalyptus oil, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone
• TO DELETE backwater. Emptying water that collects in toys, tires, trash cans, buckets, clogged gutters and plant pots will deprive mosquitoes of a place to lay their eggs and breed.

For more information visit pinal.gov/ehs or call 866-287-0209.