First Pinal County Human Tests Positive For WNV

Pinal County health officials announced that an adult male in the greater Coolidge area is the 1st human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the County for 2006. The infected individual is recovering & does not pose a health threat. Health officials want to remind people that WNV activity peaks in Aug. & Sept. but can continue for as long as there are warm temperatures & moist air. So far this year, no bird or horse cases have been reported in Pinal Co. but 3 mosquito samples collected from the Stanfield & Maricopa areas by the Pinal Co. Division of Environmental Health have tested positive for the virus.

The Pinal Co. Division of Environmental Health has been involved in mosquito surveillance & control activities in the greater Coolidge area & in other areas of the county since April, the beginning of the mosquito season in Pinal Co. In response to the recent WNV positive case, fogging will be done thru tomorrow from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. The area to be fogged encompasses Hwy. 87 to the east, Kleck Road to the north, LaPalma Road to the west, & Storey Road to the south.

For further info regarding the WNV, call the Pinal Co. Division of Public Health's hotline at 1-866-763-7252. You may also visit westnileaz.com or call the State Public Health Hotline at (602) 364-4500 or statewide toll-free at (800) 314-9243.