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Disease Carrying Insects Program - Fight the Bite!

Fight the bite logo: Drawing of tick and mosquito with line through them
The bite of an infected mosquito, tick or other disease carrying insect may result in a life-changing illness, such as West Nile virus or Lyme disease. The Disease Carrying Insects Program, established in 2003, works to minimize the threat of insect-borne diseases through active surveillance, vector management and community education activities to help protect county residents.

Mosquitoes & West Nile Virus Prevention

Learn how to help control the mosquito population in your own neighborhood and to protect yourself and your family from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus.

Ticks & Lyme Disease Prevention

Learn how to prevent tick bites, which is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. Get prevention tips and learn about the Health Department's free tick identification service.

Surveillance

The Fairfax County Health Department traps mosquitoes and ticks as part of routine monitoring of the level of West Nile virus and Lyme activity in the community.

Outreach & Educational Materials

The Disease Carrying Insect Program staff is committed to educating the community about prevention of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases. We also have free brochures, pamphlets, flyers, calendars and children's books available for download online.

NOTE: The Fairfax County Health Department does not spray for nuisance mosquitoes. Only under exceptional circumstances will the Health Department spray insecticides on county property to control adult mosquitoes, and in these rare cases, the spray will target only those mosquitoes which transmit disease to humans. The county does not spray on private property.