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A record number of West Nile cases in humans have been reported in the state’s largest county, according to new data released.
Maricopa County is now reporting 361 West Nile cases in humans, surpassing the 2004 record of 355 cases.
In late September, Maricopa County health officials shared the record number of cases for more than 15 years:
2004: 355 cases in humans
2019: 155 cases in humans
2020: three cases in total in humans
2021: 361 cases in humans as of October 7
With 361 new cases, Maricopa County health officials are reporting a total of 19 deaths.
At the end of last month, officials in Maricopa County said there were still several months left in mosquito season.
The Maricopa County Environmental Services Department has hundreds of traps in the county, where they also test mosquitoes for West Nile.
ABC15 followed up with Peoria’s Gary Bushko and His Road to Recovery as it was one of the first West Nile cases that were shared publicly over the summer.
The family learned that Bushko tested positive for West Nile after being partially paralyzed by the virus.
Bushko’s wife Jennifer Snider-Bushko told ABC15 Gary moved into a drug rehab center on Friday.
Bushko begins to speak, but is unable to sit, walk, or use his left arm. She said her husband had suffered numerous setbacks in hospital by contracting COVID-19, an infection, as well as pneumonia.
After nearly six weeks in the hospital, Snider-Bushko said he learned this week that Bushko should be transferred to the rehabilitation center.
The family relied on fundraising to pay the medical bills because Bushko was uninsured – that fundraiser is what pays for therapy at $ 10,000 for ten days.
“Ten thousand dollars for ten days of rehab, when we have $ 22,000, I’m like we have ten days and maybe if we get stronger we’ll buy maybe five more days,” Snider said. Bushko.
As of Friday, 716 West Nile positive mosquito samples were tested from these traps. That number far exceeds any other year – including 2019, when county officials reported 417 positive samples.
Experts offer advice on how to fight mosquito bites.
- You should use an EPA-approved insect repellent and make sure windows and doors that you can leave open have screens.
- Long-sleeved shirts and long pants help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
- Protect your home by removing standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
- A small amount of water in a flowerpot, bucket, overturned children’s toys, or other potential pond can become breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Stagnant water that cannot be discarded can be treated with larvicides which are usually available at the hardware store.
Maricopa County health officials also provide advice on how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding:
- Do not let the outside water sit for more than four days.
- Change the water in animal drinkers at least twice a week.
- Immediately remove any water that collects on the pool covers.
- Remove leaves and twigs from gutters, gutters, gutters and gutters.
You can report mosquito problems to Maricopa County by clicking here.
Health officials say that for those with flu-like symptoms and / or neurological symptoms, they should seek health care and may ask their provider for a test for West Nile virus.
For more information on the signs and symptoms of West Nile virus, click here.
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