Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites (any 1 of 5 closely related) that are spread through mosquito bites. 

There are a limited number of mosquito species that can carry the parasite that carries malaria; they have rarely been found in Maricopa County, and the last time one was recorded was over a decade ago. 

Read more about malaria outside of Arizona (07/07/2023)

Mosquito
  1. Transmission
  2. Signs & Symptoms
  3. Treatment
  4. Prevention

Malaria is spread primarily through mosquito bites. These mosquitoes generally feed from evening to early morning, so it is important to protect against mosquito bites whenever you are outside. In Maricopa County, we do have Anopheles mosquitoes; however, we have not had laboratory-confirmed reports of malaria-positive mosquitoes.

The most common Anopheles mosquito species in Maricopa County is Anopheles franciscanus. Although the female mosquitoes of this species bite humans, they are not a known malaria vector and are not associated with disease transmission in Maricopa County.