Supervisors to Approve West Nile Prevention Program

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve Tuesday the 2013 Disease Carrying Insects program, a series of measures to prevent outbreaks of West Nile Virus and other illnesses.

The county’s annual fight against insect-borne disease involves monitoring mosquitoes and ticks, surveillance on any human cases in the county, and educating residents on effective prevention.

“I’m proud the Board is once again taking the necessary action to combat West Nile in our area. This program is an integral part of keeping residents safe from West Nile Virus," said Braddock District Supervisor John Cook.

According to a Fairfax County Department of Health report, more than 5,300 cases of West Nile Virus were reported across the United States in 2012, 243 of the ending in death. 

In Virginia last year, 29 residents were diagnosed with West Nile, three of whom died. Of the eight cases reported in Fairfax County last year, one resident died.

Under the program, mosquitoes and ticks would be captured and tested for West Nile Virus and Lyme disease. And because mosquitoes breed on standing water, officials would also treat stormwater catch basins, as well as other breeding areas.

These measures are financed through the Integrated Pest Management Program Fund, which collects money from countywide tax levy of .001 cents per $100 of assessed value (formerly Fund 116). In FY2013, the county budgeted about $1,993,00 for the effort.

Special outreach attention will be given to at-risk demographics, such as residents over 50 years old, who are likely to develop more severe strains of West Nile if contracted.

Editor's Note: This article's been updated to include a quote from Braddock District Supervisor John Cook about the program.