The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is proclaiming May Fight the Bite Awareness Month in Fairfax County and encouraging residents to take preventative actions to prevent tick and mosquito bites.

The bite of an infected mosquito or tick can lead to a life-changing illness. West Nile virus and Lyme disease are two of the vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks, respectively, in our region.

Taking simple precautions when spending time outdoors can make an impact on both individual and public health.

The Fairfax County Health Department recommends residents use insect repellents that contain EPA-registered ingredients like DEET or picaridin to prevent bites. Follow product instructions when using repellents. In addition, residents can:

• Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing when outdoors.
• Use permethrin-treated clothing, shoes, and gear. Follow product instructions.
• Shower soon after outdoor activities; and make sure to perform tick checks (on yourself and family members) after outdoor activities.
• Put clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes on high heat after being outdoors to kill ticks on dry clothing after coming indoors.

The Health Department offers residents a free tick-identification service. If you find a tick on yourself or loved one, you can submit a photo online, mail it in, or bring it to our facility. Our Environmental Health staff will identify it and provide you with information about the type of tick and what diseases that tick may transmit. Please note: this service does not test ticks for disease and our staff do not provide medical advice. This identification can be useful if you need to speak to a medical provider.

Education and awareness are also important ways to prevent mosquito and tick-borne disease. To help spread the word, the Health Department continues to work with community partners to provide prevention information. Learn how to prevent and control mosquitoes in your yard with a free yard inspection and why tipping and tossing standing water disrupts the mosquito life cycle.

In addition, the 20th Anniversary of the Fight the Bite calendar will be going home with all FCPS 4th graders in June. Copies will also be available for pick up at the Health Department Administration building.

Learn more about the Disease Carrying Insect Program and how you can help fight the bite.