PHOENIX -

JACQUELINE PULIDO/CRONKITE NEWS: Although monsoon season has ended, the mosquito season has not.

PAM REINMUTH/VALLEY RESIDENT: I’ve never seen so many mosquitoes.

JACQUELINE PULIDO/CRONKITE NEWS: Recent rain and flooding left standing water throughout the Valley, creating mosquito breeding grounds.

PAM REINMUTH/VALLEY RESIDENT: Seems like no matter how many times we put bug spray on, we end up with multiple bug bites.

JACQUELINE PULIDO/CRONKITE NEWS: Johnny Dilone of the Maricopa County Environmental Service Department says even a small amount of standing water can create a new home for mosquitoes.

JOHNNY DILONE/MARICOPA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE: You’ll be surprised; you’ll always find maybe it’s a pet’s dish, potted plants or even a water bottle cap that’s containing water.

JACQUELINE PULIDO/CRONKITE NEWS: And while mosquitoes have always been an itchy, irritating nuisance, the bites create a bigger health concern.

JOHNNY DILONE/MARICOPA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE: West Nile (virus) is in all Maricopa County.

JACQUELINE PULIDO/CRONKITE NEWS: About 80 percent of mosquitoes that have been currently tested, are carrying the virus.

The virus has been in Maricopa County since 2004. Since then, vector control has been conducting year-round surveillance in high-risk areas.

JOHNNY DILONE/MARICOPA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE: We set up over 640 traps in those areas every week.

JACQUELINE PULIDO/CRONKITE NEWS: So far this year there have been 47 reported cases of West Nile virus in Maricopa County.