Updates from the Health Department
August 22, 2025
Written by Liza Sabine and Josh Smith
Mosquitoes and ticks can spread diseases that make people sick – and bites can happen anywhere, including your own backyard. Experts predict that warmer, wetter conditions brought on by climate change could make these pests and the pathogens they transmit more common. (See CDC's Vector-Borne Diseases page for more info).
Preparedness and personal protection are key for preventing vector-borne diseases. Read on to learn how to protect yourself from bites and find out about free Health Department services.
What are Vector-Borne Diseases?
Mosquitoes and ticks that can spread disease are called vectors. The illnesses they transmit are known as vector-borne diseases.
Vector-borne diseases seen in Fairfax County include Lyme disease, West Nile virus, ehrlichiosis, and alpha-gal syndrome. Other important vector-borne diseases include dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Vector-borne diseases are becoming more common in some parts of the world, and some are now being found in places where they haven’t been seen before.
August 20 is World Mosquito Day, which recognizes the day that British medical doctor Sir Ronald Ross discovered that mosquitoes transmitted malaria. This day raises awareness of the impact mosquitoes have on public health and encourages community education on disease prevention.
How To Stay Safe
1. Preventing bug bites is the best defense against diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks. When outside:
Use EPA-registered repellent with CDC-recommended active ingredients like DEET or picaridin. Apply repellent after sunscreen.
Wear long, loose, light-colored clothing to reduce your risk of being bitten.
Treat clothing, shoes, and outdoor equipment with permethrin to repel mosquitoes and ticks. (Do not spray directly on skin.)
Walk in the center of trails to lower the risk of bites.
Follow label instructions when using repellents and permethrin.
2. After being outside:
Check your body for ticks after spending time in wooded or brushy areas.
Inspect clothing, equipment, and pets for ticks.
If you are bitten by a tick, remove it promptly and safely with tweezers.
3. Keep mosquitoes and ticks out of your yard:
Get rid of standing water in your yard to help prevent mosquitoes from moving in. Empty standing water weekly from corrugated downspout extensions, tarps, flowerpots, and other containers.
Repair or replace screens on windows and doors to keep bugs outside.
Keep your grass mowed and yard trimmed for a tick-free yard.
4. Stay informed:
Learn about diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks in Virginia.
Vector-borne disease symptoms can be mild to severe and may include fever, rash, headache, fatigue, and muscle or joint pain. Contact your healthcare provider even if you think you may have a vector-borne disease.
Although everyone is at risk for vector-borne disease, certain groups (older adults, people with weakened immune systems) are more likely to develop severe disease. Learn more about the risk factors for vector-borne diseases.
What the Fairfax County Health Department is Doing
The Health Department uses an integrated approach to help protect people from diseases spread by mosquitoes and ticks. This includes collecting and analyzing mosquitoes and ticks, monitoring human cases of illness, and community education. County residents can also access these free services:
Tick Identification — The Health Department’s tick identification service can provide you with information about the type of tick that bit you. This information can be useful if you need to speak to your medical provider. (This service does not remove ticks or provide medical advice).
Yard Inspections — Have your yard checked for mosquito breeding sites and get mosquito prevention tips. Visit Mosquito Prevention and scroll down to “Mosquito Inspection Request Form.”
More Resources:
Disease Carrying Insects Program (Fairfax County Health Department)
Vector-Borne Diseases (CDC)
Vector-Borne Diseases: Climate and Health (CDC)
Avoid Bug Bites: Travelers’ Health (CDC)
Find the Repellent that is Right for You (EPA)
"Bugs” & Human Health (Virginia Department of Health)
From Climate Matters, the blog of Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination.
August 20, 2025
From the Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) was notified of a confirmed case of measles that traveled through Washington Dulles International Airport Tuesday, August 12. The confirmed case is a resident of another state. Health officials are coordinating an effort to identify people who might have been exposed, including contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights.
Listed below is the date, time, and location of the potential exposure sites in Virginia:
Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Tuesday, August 12: in the main terminal, at the TSA security checkpoint, in Concourse B, and on transportation from the main terminal to Concourse B between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
What should you do if you were at the above locations on the day and time specified?
If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
If you have never received a measles containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who might have been exposed and is considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider promptly to discuss any questions they might have.
Watch for symptoms for 21 days after the date of your potential exposure. If you notice symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. If you need to seek healthcare, call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms.
If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve the highest level of protection, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.
Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a cough. These symptoms usually start seven to fourteen days after being exposed. The second stage starts three to five days after symptoms start, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.
Measles is preventable through a safe and effective MMR vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are given to provide lifetime protection. Virginia has high measles vaccination rates, with approximately 95% of kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles. However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated, and others who are not vaccinated, are very susceptible to infection if they are exposed to measles. Infants six months through 11 months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about the MMR vaccine.
To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request your vaccination records using the VDH Immunization Record Request Form. Virginia residents with additional questions about their potential exposure can email epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov or contact their local health department.
To date in 2025, Virginia has three reported cases of measles. For the latest information on measles cases and exposures in Virginia, please visit the VDH Measles website.
August 11, 2025
Applications are now open for the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program's Fall 2025 cohort.
The Public Health Youth Ambassador Program (PHYAP) trains 10th through 12th grade high school students across Fairfax County about methods to reduce opioid use, teen mental health issues, and becoming a Community Health Worker. PHYAP provides certifications from two nationally-known public health institutions (Morehouse College and George Mason University) in each of those areas during its Fall and Spring cohorts.
Since PHYAP’s inception, the program is proud to have partnered with three outstanding Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), where our Community Health Worker curriculum is offered during day sessions: John R. Lewis High School, Justice High School, and Mount Vernon High School. Students who qualify can take part in lessons and hands-on activities led by trained PHYAP facilitators three days a week during their advisory period.
For high-school aged students who do not attend Lewis, Mount Vernon, or Justice but wish to become a Youth Ambassador, program sessions are offered outside of regular class hours at the Fairfax County Government Center. Evening classes are held Monday through Thursday each week, while our weekend class is held each Saturday morning. Whether a student attends private school, a faith-based school, is homeschooled, or goes to a non-partner Fairfax County Public School, they have the chance to jumpstart their secondary school and career engagement in the expanding community health field.
Justice High School graduate Nayla Bonilla Mendez recently shared her takeaways from the program. She said, “PHYAP helped to solidify my passion for public health, while giving me a unique perspective as a first-generation student navigating the education system. Through the program’s training, I learned about the importance of public health and its subcomponents, which allowed me to create a passion project addressing an issue that I felt was affecting my community." Today, Nayla is pursuing a public health degree at William and Mary University, and stays involved in the program, as a member of the PHYAP Alumni Program. "The PHYAP has provided me with lasting connections with colleagues in the professional world.” Nayla adds.
The application deadline for the Fall 2025 cohort has been extended to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 4th.
Follow the link to learn more about the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program, including how to submit an application.
July 31, 2025
The Fairfax County Health Department’s back-to-school immunization clinics begin Friday, August 1 from 1-4 pm at the Joseph Willard Health Center and Mount Vernon District Office clinics. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are also welcome. See all back-to-school clinic dates, times, and locations in the table below.
Dates and Times
Locations
Friday, August 1, 2025
1-4:00 pm
Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office
Saturday, August 2, 2025
8 am-12:00 pm
Annandale District Office, Joseph Willard Health Center
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
2-6:30 pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office, Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office, Springfield District Office
Friday, August 8, 2025
1-4:00 pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office
Saturday, August 9, 2025
8 am-12:00 pm
Herndon-Reston District Office, Mount Vernon District Office
Monday, August 11, 2025
2-6:30 pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office HRDO, Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office, Springfield District Office
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
2-6:30 pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office HRDO, Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office, Springfield District Office
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
2-6:30 pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office HRDO, Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office, Springfield District Office
Friday, August 15, 2025
1-4:00 pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office HRDO, Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office, Springfield District Office
Saturday, August 16, 2025
8 am-12:00 pm
Springfield District Office
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
2-6:30 pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office HRDO, Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office, Springfield District Office
Friday, August 22, 2025
1-4:00 pm
Annandale District Office, Herndon-Reston District Office HRDO, Joseph Willard Health Center, Mount Vernon District Office, Springfield District Office
These clinics are open to all Fairfax County students who need immunizations, regardless of if they have had vaccines in the past, are new to the country, or need a follow-up to be up to date. The Fairfax County Health Department also offers childhood immunizations by appointment during regular clinic hours and during limited walk-in times. Get more information.
Additional School Immunization Options
Visit your pediatrician or family physician. Many providers require an appointment, don't delay, schedule it today.
Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekday and weekend clinics are available in July and August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.
Immunizations are the most effective way to protect your child from serious illness and prevent them from missing school and other activities because they are sick. By ensuring your child is vaccinated, you not only protect them but also stop the spread of illness in schools and communities.
Parents of students entering kindergarten, 7th grade, and 12th grade should be aware of the Virginia immunization requirements.
Learn more about childhood and school required immunizations.
Wash Your Hands Often
Mosquito & Tick Bite Prevention
Health Dept. Strategic Plan
Parents: Get your child's immunizations up-to-date!
Ensuring children are up-to-date on their vaccinations helps provide immunity before they are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.
And remember, vaccination it important at all ages. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers, make sure you are up to date, too!