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49
owners and occupiers of private houses is much appreciated and has
resulted in the early notification of the presence of rats to this
department. Only rarely are rats discovered during routine
investigations.
Many of the large industrial firms in the Borough continue to
use the Rodent Control Service and in many cases regular treatments
are carried out, for which service a charge is made.
The Rodent Control personnel have performed their duties
with diligence throughout the year and have given the Department
good service.
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.—Under previous legislation
responsibility for the eradication of rats and mice rested with each
individual occupier but the introduction of the Prevention of
Damage by Pests Act, 1949, whilst repealing the Rats and Mice
(Destruction) Act, 1919, and the Infestation Order, 1943, places the
onus for the destruction of these pests on Local Authorities. The
1949 Act also makes it obligatory for occupiers to notify the Local
Authority of any rodent infestation.
Rats and mice are notorious not only for the wholesale destruction
and fouling of foodstuffs and for the structural damage they
cause to buildings, but also for their part in the spread of disease.
Leptospirosis (Weil's disease) is primarily a disease of rats and is
one which can be fatal to man. The disease is transmitted by means
of food, dust, mud, slime and water which has become contaminated
by urine or faeces from infected rats, with the result that this complaint
is prevalent among sewermen, miners, farm workers and
others of similar occupation. Efficient rodent control is the first
and most important defence against this type of disease.
One fatal case of Weil's disease occurred to a non-resident of
the Borough who was employed by a Contractor engaged in the
building of a bridge across Deptford Creek.
Rodent control expenses incurred by the Council at commercial
or industrial premises have to be recovered from the occupiers, but
under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, similar work
at other properties carries a 50% grant from the Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries.
It has not been found necessary during the year to take legal
action to enforce the provisions of the Act.
The following report was submitted to the Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries for the year 1951:—