[Archived] Alexandria Mosquito Tests Are Negative for Malaria and West Nile Virus

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

Alexandria Mosquito Tests are Negative
For Malaria and West Nile Virus

The Alexandria Health Department announced today (Oct. 2) that all mosquitoes trapped and tested this week in the City were negative for both West Nile Virus and malaria. The City’s mosquito control contractor set 12 mosquito traps in different parts of the City on Monday night. The mosquitoes were sorted and identified on Tuesday. Five pools of Anopheles mosquitoes from five locations were tested for malaria and all five pools tested negative for malaria. Twenty-one pools of mosquitoes were tested for West Nile Virus and all 21 pools tested negative for West Nile Virus.

Bob Custard, Environmental Manager for the Alexandria Health Department, said “The malaria test results were reassuring. We believed that the chances of capturing a malaria positive mosquito here were very low. So far the tests confirm that belief.” Testing of mosquitoes in Alexandria for both malaria and West Nile Virus will continue for several weeks. The City has been testing for West-Nile Virus mosquitos all summer. So far there have been no West Nile Virus-related cases or deaths in Alexandria and no positive West Nile Virus mosquitos have been found. By this Friday, all 6,500 storm drains in Alexandria will have been treated with a larvicide three times.

The Alexandria Health Department encourages residents to eliminate mosquito-breeding areas around their homes. The most effective way to control mosquitos is to tip containers and toss any standing water. The Health Department also advises citizens to:

• Wear long sleeves and long pants

• Use an insect repellent indicated for mosquitos
• Make sure all windows and door screens are in good condition and free of holes.

Citizens are encouraged to seek treatment for symptoms of fever, chills or flu-like illness.