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Fairfax County Health Department has determined the need to spray pesticides to control adult mosquitoes in parts of Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax based on its mosquito surveillance activities for West Nile virus. Weather permitting, spraying will take place on Monday, August 27 between 8 a.m. and noon at the following locations: Kings Park Park, 8717 Trafalgar Court, Springfield. Ted Grefe Park, 9980 Mosby Road, City of Fairfax. The maps below identify the geographic boundaries for the spray events. West Nile Virus (WNV) has been found in Culex mosquitoes throughout the county in 2018, but trap sites at the above locations also have found WNV in Aedes mosquitoes that generally don’t carry the virus but are known to aggressively bite people. The Health Department is performing these pesticide treatments to reduce the possibility of human transmission.  Spraying to kill adult mosquitoes that can spread disease to humans is an important and effective component of an integrated pest management program, said Pieter Sheehan, Director of Environmental Health. But spraying is just one step to protect public health. Residents must also take appropriate steps to protect themselves.” Residents are encouraged to fight the bite by: Avoiding mosquitoes when possible, especially during peak biting times such as dawn and dusk.  Wearing long clothing and apply a mosquito repellent to clothing and exposed skin when spending time outdoors.  Keeping mosquitoes outside of your home by closing doors and windows and/or making sure that screens are in good repair.  Eliminating standing water by tipping and tossing buckets, downspout extensions, planters, toys, birdbaths, flowerpots, tarps and other containers where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Pesticide treatments will be performed at the two parks locations by certified staff using backpack sprayers. The materials being used to control the adult mosquitoes are Aqua Zenivex E20®, and Flit® 10EC. These pesticides are used for mosquito control in residential areas across the nation and are not harmful to people or pets. Health Department staff will be notifying residents who live near the affected areas that the pesticide treatment will occur and offering yard inspections to help eliminate mosquitoes. Residents of the targeted neighborhoods may, as a precaution, choose to stay indoors, close their doors and windows, and turn off window-mounted air conditioners or whole house fans while spraying is underway. People who are more sensitive to chemicals could possibly experience short-term effects, such as eye, skin, nose or throat irritation, or a breathing problem. Residents should consult a healthcare provider if they experience any such health effects from spraying. Residents are also encouraged to follow the Health Department’s Twitter feed @fairfaxhealth for news about spray events. For more information on mosquito control efforts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/fightthebite or call 703-246-8931, TTY 711.

Fairfax County Health Department has confirmed rabies in a cat located in the 7800 block of O’Dell Street in the Springfield area. The cat attacked three people on Wednesday, August 15. Fairfax County Animal Protection Police were able to trap the animal and the Fairfax County Public Health Laboratory conducted the rabies testing this morning and it was positive.  The cat is described as an orange-colored male tabby without a collar. The cat was aggressive but moved with a slow gait. During the time it was sick, the cat may have had contact with other people or pets. If you, someone you know, or a pet touched or was bitten or scratched by the animal between August 6 and August 15, you are urged to call the Fairfax County Health Department Rabies Program at 703-246-2433, TTY 711. Rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus that can infect wildlife, particularly foxes, racoons, skunks and bats, and domestic animals, such as dogs and cats. The rabies virus is found in the saliva, brain and spinal tissue of an infected animal. People get rabies when they are bitten or scratched by an animal that is sick with the disease. The virus can also be passed along when an infected animals’ saliva or central nervous tissue enters an open wound, mouth, nose or eyes of another mammal.  To date, 16 animals have been diagnosed with rabies in Fairfax County in 2018. None of those animals was found in this area of the county. Animals with rabies may act normally during the early stages of the disease, making it difficult to know if the animal is infected. As the disease progresses, animals often show changes in behavior. For example, wild animals may act very docile and domestic animals may become aggressive. Rabid animals may stagger, drool or become paralyzed. Protect yourself and your family from rabies: stay away from wild animals and be sure pets are vaccinated against rabies every year. Remember, if the animal is not your own, leave it alone! Here are other important steps to protect yourself and your pets from rabies: Do not allow your pets to roam unattended. Do not adopt or feed wild or stray animals.  Seal openings in your house so that wildlife cannot enter. Report animal bites, animals that are acting strangely (including domestic animals), or altercations between wild and domestic animals to Fairfax County’s Animal Protection Police at 703-691-2131, TTY 711. If bitten or scratched by an animal that might have rabies, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention right away. When vaccinations are provided in time and appropriately, rabies treatment is 100 percent effective in preventing the disease. But if not treated, rabies is 100 percent fatal.  More information about rabies can be found at on the Health Department’s website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/rabies.