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20
Antifly and antimosquito campaign
The campaign, which lasted from May 7 to September 29, was
organised on similar lines to the campaigns in previous years. Four
men were employed working as two pairs, using motor cycles with sidecars
as transport. The number of sites and spraying points visited was
1,274, an increase from the previous year's figure of 1,098, due mainly
to the inclusion of dust chutes in blocks of flats. These 1,274 sites
were visited as a routine and during the season each site was treated on
various occasions. General sites, e.g., bombed sites, grass verges, etc.,
were visited on 10 occasions, and special sites, consisting of stables,
allotments, dust chutes, etc., were each visited on 21 occasions during
the course of the campaign. Altogether 20,813 visits and treatments
were made, and in addition sprayings were carried out in 19 houses by
the permanent disinfecting staff where special complaints were received.
In each of these latter cases, a supply of insecticide containing 5 percent
DDT was left with the householders for use in their own sprays, a
total of 4 gallons of insecticide being dispensed in this way.
In addition to the above, measures were taken to deal with especially
offensive deposits, including such things as old mattresses or dead
animals, either by destruction on the site or by collection and destruction
centrally. Sixty gallons of paraffin were used for destruction of such
items on site, and amongst the items dealt with were 55 mattresses,
17 pillows and 17 cushions.
The Borough Engineer's department cooperated with us throughout
the campaign by the treatment of dustbins with a powder we supplied
containing gammexane, this being applied at the time of refuse
collection. Altogether 4| tons of powder containing 0 • 5 percent gamma
benzene hexachloride was used.
Materials used for the campaign were as follows :—
General spraying—1,158 gallons tip dressing (approximately
4½ percent DDT in aqueous suspension).
Static tanks and stagnant water on river edges — 93 gallons of
5 percent DDT in kerosene.
Accumulations of rubbish, dog excreta, etc. — 611bs. of 10 percent
DDT powder and 561bs. of gammexane powder.
Of the 561bs. of gammexane, 281bs. were distributed to caretakers
of blocks of flats for sprinkling round chute containers when
emptied by the dustmen.
Laboratory facilities
Specimens for examination concerning bacteriology and epidemiology
in relation to the diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious
disease are sent to the Southern Group Laboratory at Park Hospital.
This service is provided by the Public Health Laboratory Service which