West Nile virus tapering off after reaching record highs

As COVID-19 cases continue to be reported at a steady plateau in Arizona, the state’s record West Nile virus cases are beginning to taper off during the cooler winter months.

As of Nov. 8, there were 996 confirmed or probable West Nile virus cases across all 15 of Arizona’s counties, with 861 being reported in Maricopa County alone, according to the most recent data from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Approximately 73 fatalities have been confirmed.

This is the highest number of cases ever reported in Arizona. The last year with a high number of cases was 2010, when the state saw 166 cases of the mosquito-borne illness. As of October 2021, neighboring California had reported only 88 cases, in stark contrast to the hundreds in Arizona.