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In addition to the investigations of recorded complaints, 5,326
other surveys were carried out under the Prevention of Damage by
Pests Act, 1949, giving a grand total of 8,529.
During investigations, infestation was found to exist on 37 occasions
in Local Authority premises, 2,081 in dwelling houses and
358 in miscellaneous properties and places of business. In all, some
3,042 treatments were effected by the Council and 3 by occupiers
or other services. Periodical treatments were carried out at 17
industrial premises, 4 wharves and 2 hospitals in the Borough.
Rodent Control treatments are carried out by the Council free
of charge in all private dwellings; for industrial and business
premises a charge is made. When it is found that defects of a
structural nature are causing or aggravating an infestation of
rodents the remedy is taken up with the owner of the premises.
Following the policy of tracing the source of each infestation,
37 drains suspected as a cause of rat infestation were tested by the
Department's staff and in 23 cases the tests proved positive. In
these instances Notices were served under the Public Health Act,
1936, and the defects remedied.
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949
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 been contaminated
by urine or faeces from infected rats. Efficient rodent control is the
first and most important defence against this type of disease.
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, requires the Local
Authority to take the necessary steps to ensure that, so far as is
practicable, their district is kept free from rats and mice, by :-
(i) carrying out inspections;
(ii) destroying rats and mice on their own property; and
(iii) enforcing the duties of owners and occupiers, as set out
in the Act.
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,
Fisheries and Food, for the year ended 31st December,
1969:—