West Nile Virus Prevention Campaign

Health Department
Launches Aggressive West Nile Virus Prevention Campaign
- Produces Educational Materials in Five Languages -

May 25, 2004

The Fairfax County Health Department has begun its multi-faceted 2004 campaign against West Nile virus (WNV). Prevention measures include controlling mosquito populations with environmentally friendly larvicide; and educating residents about the disease, controlling mosquitoes and using insect repellents containing DEET to prevent mosquito bites.

Storm drain catch basins - common breeding sites for mosquitoes known to carry WNV - are being treated in targeted areas with the larvicide Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) that dissolves in water trapped in county catch basins. The larvicide, released from a water soluble sachet, contains proteins that mosquito larvae ingest and that ultimately cause the larvae to starve. The treatment is effective for up to six weeks. The Health Department, along with their contractor, Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management, will treat and re-treat targeted catch basins throughout the summer months.

"Breaking the breeding cycle of specific mosquitoes early in the season means fewer mosquitoes will survive to reproduce and perpetuate the spread of West Nile virus," said Jorge Arias, PhD, supervisor of the county's West Nile virus program. He added that catch basins in the eastern part of the county - an area considered to be at higher risk due to denser populations and older infrastructure - will be treated first, followed by treatments in the central and then western portions of the county. "The first round of treatments that will cover most of the county should be completed by mid-June," said Dr. Arias.

Community education and outreach are additional key components of the county's WNV prevention campaign. The Health Department has produced educational materials in five languages - Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese - to inform residents about simple steps they can take to help reduce mosquito populations around their homes, and to use insect repellents containing up to 30 percent DEET to prevent mosquito bites when outdoors.

"We're printing thousands of these documents, and working diligently to get them into traditional and non-traditional outlets to increase awareness among many population segments in the county," said Carl Sivertsen, community outreach coordinator for the county's West Nile virus program. The materials are also available and can be downloaded from the Health Department West Nile web site .

The Health Department will also be conducting mosquito and bird surveillance during this year's West Nile virus season, which runs through October, as a means to collect valuable scientific information and help guide additional prevention efforts. The Health Department encourages residents to report dead birds to its bird hotline at 703-246-2300, TTY 703-591-6435.

For more information about West Nile virus and the county's prevention efforts, residents can visit the Health Department West Nile Virus web site or call 703-246-2300, TTY 703-591-6435.