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32
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
The free treatment of rooms and furniture with D.D.T. in recommended cases
continued and the number so treated was 461, most of these being on behalf of
elderly or infirm persons.
A total of 1,635 rooms were disinfested of vermin.
During the vear, 1,063 rooms were disinfected after cases of infectious or other
diseases.
The precautionary spraying of furniture and bedding of families moving to new
Council dwellings was continued, and the effects of 120 families were so treated.
Cleansing of Verminous Houses Block Disinfestation Scheme.
The scheme for systematic block disinfestation approved by the Council in
1950 was implemented during the current year. The scheme was based upon
systematic house-to-house and street-by-street inspection, and disinfestation if
necessary, in addition to the customary procedure of individual treatment upon
complaint, or treatment arising out of casual inspection for other purposes. Charges
for treatment offered were at the rate of 7s. 6d. for the first room and 5s. for each
additional room.
Owing to the great amount of other disinfestation work, it was not possible to
implement the scheme to the full extent as originally contemplated. The mode of
operation of the scheme was as follows
1. Target Area.
An area was selected which it was thought probable would contain a relatively
high proportion of infested houses.
2. Visits.
Every house in the selected area was visited by the designated Infestation
Inspector. Satisfactory inspection on account of no access, or for other reasons,
was not possible in a substantial proportion of houses.
3. Delivery of Explanatory Letters.
Having ascertained which houses showed signs of infestation, appropriate
letters were delivered personally to the occupier, so that the accompanying
explanatory talk would assist in obtaining agreement to operate the scheme on
a voluntary basis.
4. Disinfestation.
This was carried out using 5 per cent. D.D.T. Kerosene spray and 10 per cent.
D.D.T. powder. Operators were trained by the specialist Infestation Inspector
and personally supervised by him until good proficiency was obtained.
5. Re-Visits.
All houses were re-visited where no answer was obtained on the first visit.
6. Re-Inspection of Premises after Disinfestation.
It was not practicable within the time to re-visit all treated premises, but a
considerable proportion was re-visited and no re-infestations found.