From May to October, for the past decade, Environmental Health Specialist Tilde Hoff has been setting roughly 4,000 mosquito traps across 75 locations throughout the county. 

"I love the variety of work that goes into mosquito trapping, it's never a dull day! I love diving into the mechanics of the broken traps to figure out the issues."

Her daily work goes well beyond the placement of the traps. When the equipment breaks down or malfunctions from environmental exposure, Hoff and her colleagues dive into the mechanics, repairing everything from stuck fans and worn fabric to full motor replacements and rewiring.

This hands-on work keeps the Fairfax County Disease Carrying Insect Program’s surveillance system running smoothly. Tilde's role enables the Health Department to monitor for potential diseases such as West Nile Virus, track mosquito populations, and provide the community with vital education about mosquito-borne illnesses and how they can be prevented.

These traps are placed all over Fairfax County so if you spot one (they are clearly labeled and look like toolboxes or small trash cans under tarps), please don't disturb them. They, and Tilde are working hard to keep our community safe!

Learn more about our Environmental Health Department and Fight the Bite!