TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — S. C. Johnson is forecasting high to severe mosquito activity across Pima County this week.
According to its OFF!Cast, Saturday, Sunday and Monday should have the most amount of mosquitoes roaming around.
The OFF!Cast is verified through 33 million data points from mosquito traps, S. C. Johnson explained.
It is also updated daily with over 15 billion weather data points, plus back through 60 years of research from The S. C. Johnson Center for Insect Science.
Arizona Department of Health Services officials have also announced there is one suspected case of West Nile Virus in Pima County.
Currently, Pima and Maricopa counties are the only areas in all of Arizona with confirmed or suspected cases.
“This time of the year we do trapping, surveillance and identification of West Nile Mosquitoes to determine if they transmit West Nile," said Greg Bustamante, an Environmental Health Technician for Pima County.
The Pima County Department of Health sets up mosquito traps around the community to test mosquitoes for diseases.
Last year, nearly 1,700 people had a confirmed or probable case of the West Nile virus and 121 people died, according to AZDHS.
With a new probable case in the county, the health department is trying to educate people on how to "fight the bite."
“Wear long sleeve shirts, and the use of mosquito repellent is strongly recommended,” said Bustamante.
They say the biggest prevention tactic is to remove standing water by your house like bird baths or dog bowls. Water is one of the main places mosquitoes lay their eggs.
Most of the West Nile cases AZDHS detects are between May and October as this is peak mosquito activity in the state.
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Faith Abercrombie is a reporter for KGUN 9. Before coming to KGUN, Faith worked as a videographer for the Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation and as a reporter and producer on the youth suicide documentary, "Life is..." on Arizona PBS.
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Caleb Fernández is a digital content producer for KGUN 9. After earning his bachelor's degree from Penn State in Advertising/Public Relations, Caleb went to New York where he learned production assistance, photography and art direction. Share your story ideas and important issues with Caleb by emailing caleb.fernandez@kgun9.com or by connecting on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
