After much discussion and public input, the Flower Mound Town Council approved a measure to participate in Denton County’s aerial spraying program at an emergency meeting Thursday night.
The Town of Double Oak held a meeting Friday night at town hall and came to the same conclusion.
The meetings were held in response to Denton County’s declaration of a West Nile Virus Health Emergency on Wednesday.
The declaration by the county triggered a request to the Department of State Health Services to make additional resources available to Denton County for aerial mosquito spraying. Municipalities have a small window of time to take advantage of the opportunity to be included in the aerial spraying program funded by the state.
The aerial spraying is safe and should not present a risk to the public, according to Dr. Bing Burton, director of the Denton County Health Department.
The chemical to be sprayed is called Duet, a combination of two pyrethroids; sumithrin and prallethrin. Pyrethroids are a class of synthetic pesticides similar to pyrethrins, which are naturally occurring in chrysanthemum flowers. They kill mosquitoes on contact and are usually broken down by sunlight and water in a short period of time after application. Aerial Spraying Q&A.
Burton told council members that he expects the aerial spraying operation to occur no sooner than next Thursday and Friday nights between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.
This year, 119 residents had been diagnosed with West Nile disease in Denton County as of Thursday, which is the highest West Nile virus incidence rate in the state.
Ground spraying and the use of larvicide in standing water, coupled with public education efforts, have not been successful in containing this unprecedented outbreak.
“Aerial spraying is the most effective option,” Burton told council members. “I believe that is the best recommendation. We are dealing with an outbreak like we have never seen.”
Highland Village, Argyle, Bartonville, and Copper Canyon will hold special council meetings in the coming days to determine if they want to participate in the aerial spraying operation.
Bartonville Town Council members will hold a special meeting on Monday, Aug. 27, at 6:45 p.m. at town hall.
The Copper Canyon Town Council will meet Monday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. at town hall.
The Highland Village City Council will address aerial spraying at their regular council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the municipal complex.
Argyle will also tackle the issue at their town council meeting on Tuesday evening.
Aerial spraying will take place in Lantana since the master planned community is in an unincorporated area of Denton County.
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