Maricopa County unveils mosquito bite and disease prevention website

PHOENIX — It’s mosquito season in Arizona and Maricopa County has launched a website that provides information about how people can avoid bites and reduce the insect’s population.

The website recommends four ways for people to “fight the bite” and protect themselves: repel, remove, repair and remind.

Among the tips are using EPA-registered insect repellent that contains specific ingredients, removing standing water from the home or yard to avoid mosquitoes breeding and recommending people repair damaged windows or screens to keep the insects outside.

While mosquitoes are active in Arizona year-round, the insects are most prominent between March and October, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Not only can the mosquito bites cause irritation, they can also result in serious illnesses like West Nile virus.

A Maricopa County record was set last year when nearly 1,500 cases of West Nile virus were identified, which the county said in a press release was four times as many as the previous record of 350 cases in 2004.

The Maricopa County Environmental Services Department deploys more than 800 mosquito traps every week, according to the release. People can use the website to view trap locations and dates of treatment.

The website also has mosquito-borne disease surveillance and stats, current case counts and more information about West Nile virus symptoms.

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