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Area residents warned about mosquito-borne viruses following rain

By Melissa Howell

WASHINGTON — After several days of rain, area health officials are warning residents about the risk of disease carried by mosquitoes.

[related_gallery align=”right”]In Virginia, the Prince William Health District is reminding everyone the insects can carry diseases such as zika and West Nile virus. In Maryland, Riverdale Park and Prince George’s County, have reported their first case of West Nile this year, and officials across the state are reminding residents to empty standing water to stop mosquitoes from breeding.

The Prince William Health District campaign is also advising everyone to tip, toss and cover:

  • Tip containers such as flower pots and garbage cans
  • Toss unwanted items that could collect water
  • Cover yourself with insect repellent or long clothing

“Most of the mosquito species that carry disease breed in standing water within a few hundred feet of homes, especially after the recent heavy rains,” said Dr. Alison Ansher, director of the Prince William Health District. “Taking steps to prevent mosquito breeding around the home is the most effective way to reduce the risk of bites.”

Fauci repeatedly invokes the Fifth Amendment in a contentious Senate committee hearing

By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer dozens of questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision, at least for now, shielded Fauci from answering questions that could expose him to accusations of lying under oath. Though he received a pardon in early 2025 from Democratic President Joe Biden, some Republicans pursuing a yearslong campaign for his arrest had suggested he could still face charges for any perjury committed during Wednesday’s hearing. The scientist, who helped lead the nation’s COVID-19 response, was subpoenaed to testify under oath by Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has long had an antagonistic relationship with Fauci. In response to angry, sometimes mocking questions from Republican senators, Fauci declined to answer more than 100 times, injecting new drama into partisan divides that have festered for years about the origins and handling of the pandemic. Fauci himself has become a polarizing figure, even receiving death threats that prompted him to seek security.
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