© CBS 5FLORENCE, AZ (CBS5) -
Pinal County Environmental Services will be exterminating mosquitoes in Arizona City, Florence and Coolidge beginning Tuesday.
The mosquitoes are being exterminated because they were found to have the West Nile virus during routine surveillance, county officials said.
There have been no reported human cases of the virus in Pinal County, officials said. However, there have been two reported cases in Maricopa County this year and an elderly man with underlying health problems died from the virus.
The foggings will take place between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
County officials said to avoid the pesticide, close all windows and outside air filters, stay inside and bring pets inside. It will be OK to go outside 30 minutes after the fogging, officials said.
Sumithrin, the chemical used to kill mosquitoes, is an artificial version of a natural pesticide found in chrysanthemum flowers, along with another chemical that enhances Sumithrin's ability to kill mosquitoes.
The West Nile virus is spread by mosquito bites and can cause severe illness in people and horses, officials said. Although some infected people may not display symptoms, the elderly are more susceptible to the virus.
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