Fight The Bite Calendar

Health Department Publishes New "Fight the Bite" Mosquito and Tick Education Calendar
-- Mosquito Control Awareness Week is June 24-30 --

June 22,2007

The Health Department has published a new mosquito and tick calendar for the 2007 season to augment its extensive, multi-faceted "Fight the Bite" public education campaign about disease carrying insects. The campaign will be showcased during Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 24-30.

Mosquito Control Awareness Week June 24-30

The "Fight the Bite" campaign will be showcased during Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 24-30, 2007, which was proclaimed in Fairfax County by the Board of Supervisors at their June 18 meeting. The week is promoted by the American Mosquito Control Association, as well as the Fairfax County Health Department.

New Materials Available

A new 18-month calendar for the years 2007-2008 is available from the Health Department titled, "Fight the Bite." The colorful and humorous calendar, now in its third edition, contains comprehensive information on West Nile virus (WNV) prevention, mosquito management, and tick and Lyme disease educational information. Call 703-246-2300, TTY 703-591-6435 to request a calendar.

Public education materials in seven languages -- English, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese -- are included in the "Fight the Bite: Say NO to MOsquitoes" campaign. All materials can be downloaded from the "Fight the Bite" Web page.

Health Department's West Nile Virus Prevention Measures

The Health Department's multi-faceted 2007 program against WNV has been in full swing for months. Prevention measures include treating mosquito breeding sites with an environmentally friendly larvicide; tracking and surveillance of WNV in mosquito and bird populations; and educating residents about the disease, how to manage mosquitoes and protect themselves from bites using approved insect repellents.

Dead Bird Surveillance Continues

Residents are being asked to report dead birds to the Health Department to help with the county's ongoing surveillance and tracking of WNV. Infected mosquitoes are known to spread the virus to wild birds, other mammals, and sometimes humans during mosquito season, which typically runs from May until October. Dead birds can be reported by phone at 703-246-2300, TTY 703-591-6435; e-mail ; or by a Web-based reporting form.

For More Information Residents may call the Health Department's Disease Carrying Insects Program at 703-246-2300, TTY 703-591-6435, or visit their Web page.