Parker Live News from the Parker Strip since 2009.
The current West Nile virus outbreak is the largest in history and La Paz County Health Department wants to remind residents and visitors to take precautions against mosquito bites.
“In this area, mosquito activity peaks in mid to late August,” said Marion Shontz, Director of the La Paz County Health Department. “Most mosquitoes do not carry the West Nile but some do and it is our goal is to prevent mosquito bites in the first place.”
Mosquitoes in La Paz County first tested positive for West Nile virus in 2003 and have maintained a presence since then. There are currently 1118 human cases of West Nile virus in the US with the majority of them being in the state of Texas and only 12 of them in Arizona.
La Paz County does not have any human cases of West Nile virus. With the rise in human cases it is important for residents to remember to take precautions while outdoors. Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has a website with prevention messages on westnileaz.com.
