Four people have died from West Nile virus in Maricopa County this year, and with Phoenix preparing for one of its most outdoor-intensive holidays, health officials are issuing an unusually direct warning: apply insect repellent before you leave home tonight.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health has confirmed 29 human West Nile cases and four deaths as of July 1, 2026, accounting for the overwhelming majority of Arizona's 32 statewide infections. According to the CDC, the 2026 West Nile season is tracking at nearly five times the historical average case count for this point in the year, with 48 confirmed infections nationally as of June 30. That makes this the worst early-season start in more than two decades.
