Although it may feel like summer is winding down, the Health Department urges everyone to prevent mosquito bites while spending time outdoors. The Health Department reminds residents to prevent mosquito bites and prevent mosquitoes from breeding on their property. Some mosquito bites are just annoying, but others are more than just a nuisance and can cause serious health issues.

The best way to prevent mosquito bites include:

• Use repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecaone, making sure to follow label instructions.
• Wear loose fitting long pants and long sleeves to cover exposed skin.
• Limit exposure to mosquitoes during peak biting times, especially at dusk and dawn.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Many of the places where mosquitoes develop on private property are artificial containers holding small amounts of water. Checking your yard for standing water or containers holding water weekly and eliminating that water can help reduce the number of mosquitoes around where you live. Any kind of container can become a mosquito breeding site, but the most common ones found in our yards are gardening equipment, tarps, household items that are left outside, and corrugated downspout extensions.

The Health Department offers free yard inspections for anyone in the Fairfax Health District who is trying to manage a mosquito problem in their yard. Request a mosquito inspection of your yard from the Health Department’s Division of Environmental Health online or call 703-246-2201, TTY 711.

Another reason to protect yourself from mosquito bites and eliminate mosquito breeding from your yard is to help prevent West Nile virus (WNV). This virus is present in mosquitoes in our region every year. Positive mosquitoes have been collected in Fairfax Health District, underscoring the importance of preventing mosquito bites. No human cases have been reported. Some infected mosquitoes can spread WNV to people and some of those people can become sick. People at greatest risk for serious disease associated with WNV infection are adults over the age of 60. People with certain medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and organ transplant recipients, are also at greater risk. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, and lethargy should seek medical attention right away.

The Health Department uses an integrated approach to mosquito management to minimize the risk of human disease, including the following:

• Educating the public about ways to reduce their risk of WNV
• Collecting and testing adult mosquitoes throughout the Health District from May through October.
• Investigating human cases of mosquito-borne disease.
• Responding to requests from homeowners for help with mosquitoes on their property.
• Performing routine mosquito inspections and treatments of stormwater ponds throughout Fairfax County.

For more information, visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/fightthebite or call 703-246-2201, TTY 711.