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1. Who do I call about immunizations for school kids?

The Town of Flower Mound Environmental Health Services Division does not handle immunizations. Please contact the Denton County Health Department at (940) 349-2900, or visit their website.

2. Does the Town spray for mosquitoes?

The Town currently sprays for adult mosquitoes only when a positive mosquito sample from an area is tested and shown to be positive for the West Nile virus. If this occurs, the Town would then have a licensed mosquito contractor spray the immediate area, approximately 1/2 square mile, surrounding where the mosquitoes were found to be positive for the West Nile virus.
If the Town receives confirmation from the Denton County Health Department Epidemiologist that a cluster of persons (multiple unrelated within a specific radius) have been positively diagnosed with West Nile virus, the Town would then have a licensed mosquito contractor spray the immediate area, approximately 1/2 square mile, surrounding the cluster field. For ground spraying events, the Town currently follows the CDC recommended spraying guidelines. The CDC recommends ground spraying to occur for 3 consecutive nights within the designated spray area.
In the event of notification of a single human case of West Nile infection, the Town does not conduct spraying activities immediately. The Town increases trapping in the surrounding area. Normal procedures for testing and spraying are followed.

The Town does not spray routinely for nuisance mosquitoes. Spraying occurs only due to the identification of the presence of West Nile virus and is limited to the immediate 1/2 square mile area and is done so to aid in the reduction of mosquito borne infection in humans. Research has shown that spraying for adult mosquitoes is only about 2-3% effective, in that the spray must actually contact mosquitoes in order to kill them because there is no residual effect.

A much more effective means of controlling the mosquito population is to reduce the source and number of breeding areas. By eliminating areas of standing water and treating areas of standing water that cannot be eliminated with an effective, environmentally safe, mosquito larvicide, mosquito larvae can be reduced or eliminated. Only about 1% of mosquitoes are actually infected with the West Nile Virus, and only about 2% of the individuals that are bitten by an infected mosquito actually develop the symptoms of West Nile virus.

3. What can I do about mosquitoes?

The easiest and best thing anyone can do to help control and reduce the mosquito population is to take a moment to survey their own property to make sure that they are not creating areas of standing water, which is what mosquitoes require to lay eggs and reproduce. Check items such as flower pots, bird baths, ornamental pots or basins, and fountains to make sure that there is no standing water for mosquitoes to breed in. One often-forgotten problem area is the rain gutters on the home. Often they become clogged with leaves, especially after heavy rains or storms, and then they hold water which becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. If residents have ornamental fountains and other things designed to hold water, they can apply over-the-counter mosquito-control products that prevent mosquito larvae from growing in the water. These products are identical in composition to many of the products that the Town now uses to control mosquitoes and contain an environmentally friendly ingredient know as “BTI,” short for Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. These can be found at local hardware and home centers under trade names such as “Mosquito Dunks,” “Dunk Its,” etc. For more information on mosquitoes and mosquito control, please see our Mosquitos page .

4. Should I be concerned about West Nile Virus?

There are several steps you can take to avoid mosquito bites and reduce your chances of being exposed to West Nile Virus:

• If you must go outside during these periods, wear loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants.
  
• Try to stay inside during peak periods of activity for mosquitoes, usually at dawn and dusk.
  
• Use a repellent that contains at least 10- 30% DEET. Most over-the-counter repellents now prominently list whether they contain DEET or not on their labels. Research has shown that formulations that contain DEET are the most effective at repelling mosquitos.
  
• Work on reducing any potential breeding sources of standing water on your own property.

Remember: The chance that any one person is going to become ill with West Nile Virus from a single mosquito bite remains low. It is estimated that only 1 percent of the mosquitos out there at any given time are actually carrying the virus and that only 1-2 % of the people that are bitten by an infected mosquito develop full-stage symptoms of the disease. Statistically, the risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill.

If you have any concerns about West Nile Virus or desire more information on this subject, please see the Mosquitos page , or go to the Texas Department of Health or the US Center for Disease Control .

5. What are the requirements for running a home-based daycare?

Although the Town of Flower Mound does not currently permit and/or inspect in-home child care facilities, there are restrictions regarding these types of in-home occupations. First of all, the facility must be permitted through the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services as an in-home child care facility. For information on this, please see their website.

The Town of Flower Mound does limit the number of children that may be kept in an in-home child care facility to six children under the age of 12 years old, plus three additional after-school children, for a total of nine children. This number also includes any children of the homeowner. In addition, the homeowner may not put out any type of sign or advertising at the property identifying it as a child care facility.

6. Where can I get a list of daycares in the Town?

You can access the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services and search any area of the state by address, facility name, county, etc.

7. What can be done about rats in my neighborhood?

Contact the Environmental Health Services Division at 972.874.6340, and an inspector will survey the area in question to see if there are any obvious conditions that may be conducive to rodent breeding and harborage (piles of trash, debris, tall grass, etc.). The Town cannot put out poisonous baits, poisons, traps, etc., due to the liability involved and the hazard that this would pose to children, pets, and other non-target animals. However, if any of the above conditions are observed, the inspector will issue a notice to the property owner to abate these conditions.