As the weather warms up and more people look to enjoy the outdoors, the City of Alexandria is launching a new effort to help prevent tickborne illnesses.

This spring, Alexandria Health Department (AHD) and the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA) are partnering on a citywide tick bite prevention campaign featuring:

• Thirty new educational signs placed across Alexandria’s parks and trails reminding people to do tick checks.
• Interactive educational sessions where people can learn about common ticks, the diseases they can carry, and how to avoid bites or remove ticks safely.
• Free, credit card-sized tick remover tools available for pick-up at AHD or at educational events across the city.  

About Ticks and Tick-Borne Illnesses 

Ticks are tiny bugs that are commonly found in grassy areas, in woods and forests, and in piles of fallen leaves. Ticks wait for a person or animal to pass by before they cling onto us and bite. When they bite people or pets, they can pass on germs and make us sick. 

Tickborne illnesses we see in Virginia include Lyme disease, caused by the deer tick, and Alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat and food allergy caused by the Lone Star tick. These conditions can be serious and may have long-term health impacts.

“Since 2020, Virginia has seen an increase in Lyme disease, and we’re learning more about the threat of Alpha-gal syndrome,” said AHD Director Dr. David Rose. “We don’t want people and pets in Alexandria to get sick, so we’re encouraging easy actions like tick checks to stay safe.” 

RPCA Director Hashim Taylor emphasized the importance of feeling safe around wildlife to help people make the most of Alexandria’s outdoor spaces. 

“We want everyone to enjoy Alexandria’s parks with confidence,” said Taylor. “Information about these ticks and diseases is empowering for people who want to explore the outdoors.”

Tick Education Series this Spring

AHD and RPCA experts will be out in the community this spring to talk to people about ticks, diseases, and prevention. Come out and see us!

• Saturday, April 18, 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. at William Ramsay Recreation Center
• Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the “Animals in the Park” event in Windmill Hill Park
• Saturday, May 30, 4:30 – 6 p.m. at Mount Vernon Recreation Center
• Saturday, June 27, 4:30 – 6 p.m. at Charles Houston Recreation Center

If you would like to request tick information to share with your organization, email alexehhealth@vdh.virginia.gov. 

More information about tick safety is available at vdh.virginia.gov/Ticks.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Amanda Coletti at Amanda.coletti@vdh.virginia.gov or call 703.746.4972, Virginia Relay 711.

If you prefer communication in another language, free interpretation and translation services are available to you. Please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3960.

For media inquiries only, please contact Eve Elliott at 804.467.5160 or email eve.elliott@vdh.virginia.gov.