Supervisor's Message
National Mosquito Control Awareness Week
How Maricopa County Protects Communities, And How You Can Protect Yourself
As the temperature rises, the summer heat isn’t the only thing to worry about. Mosquito season is here, and for National Mosquito Control Awareness Week and beyond, please ensure you have proper protection if you are outside for any prolonged amount of time.
Mosquitoes aren’t just a nuisance or a tickle on your skin, but they can be a serious health risk, particularly certain ones that come after storms and are active at night. A small number of this mosquito population can be infected with diseases such as encephalitis and West Nile Virus (WNV). Current reports of infection are outpacing last year’s totals, as there have already been 17 instances of WNV this year in Maricopa County, including one death.
What MCESD’s Vector Control Program Does
The Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD) Vector Control Program helps protect public health by reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. It’s important to know that this is not a general pest control service — our work focuses specifically on preventing mosquitoes that can spread disease, not on controlling nuisance insects that don’t carry illnesses.
County residents may contact MCESD at (602) 506-6616 to report increased mosquito activity or breeding. When mosquito activity increases, MCESD gets many complaints. Staff investigate each complaint in the order received. During these times, you can help by submitting one complaint per concern. If you have questions or want to learn more, please click the button below.
There are steps you can take to protect yourself from these pesky insects. Remember the Four Rs:
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REPEL mosquitoes using an EPA-registered insect repellant
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REMOVE standing water from your home and yard
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REPAIR or replace damaged windows and door screens
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REMIND your family, friends, and neighbors about mosquito safety.
For more information on how to prevent mosquito breeding areas and how to protect yourself, please visit the Maricopa County Vector Control page.
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