Category: Uncategorized

September 19, 2025

Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov

RHHD Alerts the Public to Increased Risk for Transmission of West Nile Virus in Henrico County

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) alert the public to the increased opportunity for transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Henrico County. According to Henrico County’s Department of Public Works’ Vector Surveillance and Control Division, at least 50 percent of mosquito trap sites tested in the past two weeks have returned positive results for West Nile Virus. There have been no recent documented human cases of WNV in Henrico County.

Mosquito trap sites collect a pool of mosquitoes from a specific area; if one mosquito in a trap tests positive, regardless of how many mosquitoes are in the trap, the trap site is considered positive. RHHD and Henrico County consider 50 percent or more of mosquito trap sites testing positive for WNV for two consecutive weeks to indicate higher risk for WNV transmission.

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Virginia. People can get WNV after being bitten by an infected mosquito. WNV cannot spread through coughing, sneezing, or touching, or through eating infected animals or birds.

The majority of people with WNV infection have mild or no symptoms. People 55 years of age and older, and people with certain medical conditions such as cancer or kidney disease, are more susceptible to illness and account for most of the serious WNV illnesses, which can lead to permanent disability or death.

 WNV symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Rash (25– 50 percent of cases)

There is currently no vaccine available for WNV in humans. Mosquito control programs and personal protective measures provide the best protection against exposure to infected mosquitoes.

How to protect yourself from mosquitoes:

• Wear loose-fitting and long sleeves and pants and limit the amount of exposed skin when you’re outside in areas where mosquitoes may be active.
  • The mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active from dusk until dawn, but they can bite you at any time.
• Consider using an EPA-registered insect repellent on your skin or clothing.
  • When using insect repellant on children, keep the following in mind:
    • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using products containing no greater than 30% DEET on children.
    • Do not use insect repellent on babies under two months of age.
    • Oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol should never be used on children under three years of age.
  • Sleep with windows and doors closed unless they are well-screened.

How to prevent mosquito habitats on your property:

• Check outside your residence to be sure there are no containers of standing water. Some mosquitoes lay eggs in containers of water, including containers that only hold about as much water as a bottle cap.
  • Dump water that collects in containers each week.
    • Wading pools, ornamental ponds, bird baths, neglected swimming pools, flowerpot trays, buckets and used tires can all serve as sources of standing water for mosquitoes to breed in.
  • Wash out containers each week before refilling them with clean water.
    • Mosquito eggs take about one week to hatch.
  • Cover or store boats or buckets upside down to prevent water from collecting in these containers.
• Use mosquito larvicide dunks to regularly treat containers of water that cannot be dumped or drained.
  • Larvicide dunks kill mosquito larvae in stagnant water sources during warm months when mosquitoes are active.
  • Follow instructions on the package for correct use.

Henrico residents can request a free inspection of their property to look for mosquito breeding sites and offer advice to limit mosquitoes around the home. Fill out the inspection form if you are interested.

Please visit the Virginia Department of Health website for more information on mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illness. Visit rhhd.gov for more health and safety information. Follow RHHD on Instagram (@richmondcity_hd) and Facebook.

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(RICHMOND, Va.) – As little ghosts and goblins prepare to hit the trick-or-treat trails, make sure they do so safely with these tips that we’ve rounded up to help, from choosing costumes and checking candy to hosting a party at home.

Check Your Treats

• Homemade is not preferred. Parents are advised to only allow children to eat candy that has been pre-packaged by a reputable manufacturer. Check wrapped treats for signs of tampering. Throw away anything that is discolored, has tiny pinholes or that has a torn wrapper.
• Illegal drugs may be made to look like popular candy brands; these are known as “look-alikes.” If you suspect your child’s candy contains illicit or illegal substances, call your local police department.
• Pets like candy, too. Many candy items, including chocolate, are poisonous to pets. Use this as a chance to teach children about pet safety and the need to properly store candy. 
• Lock your stock. Locked medicine cabinets keep look-alike prescription and over-the-counter medications away from children who can easily mistake them for candy. 
• If your child has a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Do not allow the child to eat any home-baked goods he or she may have received.
• If you have very young children, be sure to remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
• Call the Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) to report any incidents and receive trained medical advice. Officials also recommend putting the number in all family cell phones as well as programming it as a speed dial number on landlines, and posting the number near house phones. Medical professionals including physicians, registered nurses and pharmacists offer confidential advice on poison emergencies, poison prevention, drug information, food poisoning, animal bites and more. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Trick-or-Treating 

• Stay home if you’re sick and stay away from those who are ill. 
• Children shouldn’t snack on treats from their goody bags while they’re out trick-or-treating. Give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach. Urge them to wait until they get home and let you inspect their loot before they eat any of it.  
• Prepare your trick or treater with trick or treat safety items: a flashlight, reflective tape or strips applied to costumes and candy bags, and an emergency contact information card in case they get lost or separated from the group.
• Trick or treat as part of a large group with a responsible adult.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Look both ways before crossing the street at a crosswalk or intersection.
• Walk, don’t run between houses to avoid trips and falls.
• Keep your hands clean by using hand sanitizer. If you’re giving out candy, wash your hands frequently.
• Never take candy from strangers. Parents should only allow kids to go to homes in which they know the residents. 

Costumes

• Do not wear decorative contact lenses without a prescription. Decorative lenses purchased without a prescription may not fit properly, leaving the eye more susceptible to scratches on the outer layer of the eye, or getting an ulcer (an open sore) on the cornea—the clear covering over the front of the eye.
• Painting your face can be a fun alternative to wearing a mask. Test novelty makeups in a small area on the arm to test for an allergic reaction before applying it to your face. Remove all makeup according to the manufacturers’ instructions before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
• Make sure costumes fit well to avoid blocked vision and help prevent trips and falls.
• Choose costume accessories that are short, soft and flexible. Choose items that are made of materials such as plastic or foam.

Parties 

• Skip the Halloween party if you aren’t feeling well.
• Bobbing for apples is a favorite Halloween game, but make sure the apples are rinsed well under cool running water or use a produce brush to remove surface dirt before playing. 
• Check your cider. Unpasteurized juice or cider can contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella. To stay safe, always serve pasteurized products at your parties.
• Don’t taste raw cookie dough or cake batter that contains uncooked eggs.
• If you’re serving hot foods, cook everything to a safe minimum internal temperature to get rid of any foodborne illness bacteria.
• Keep finger sandwiches, cheese platters, fruit or tossed salads, cold pasta dishes with meat, poultry, or seafood, and cream pies or cakes with whipped-cream and cream-cheese frostings chilled until serving time.
• Don’t let those types of foods sit out too long after taking them out of the refrigerator. They should not sit out for more than two hours.