View report page

29
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949.
0During the year a Rodent Investigating Officer and three
operators were engaged on control of rat infestation at dwellinghouses
and other premises and of the sewers in the Borough.
The Council provides this service to the occupiers of all dwellinghouses
free of charge; industrial and business premises are dealt
with at the request of the proprietors who pay the full cost of any
disinfestation undertaken at their premises.
1,098 premises were inspected during the year for rat and mice
infestation, and of these 364 were found to be affected.
The total number of treatments carried out by the Department
including domestic, business and factory premises, was 294.
During the year the Public Health Inspectors and Rodent
Investigating Staff made 5,379 visits concerning rat infestation.
During the year a new method of sewer disinfestation treatment
was started in conjunction with the Infestation Control Division of
the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It is intended
to carry out quarterly direct poison treatment with Sodium
Fluoracetate in damp coarse oatmeal, as this is a very efficient
poison, and two such treatments were carried out during the year.
ERADICATION OF BED BUGS
Number of Council Houses suspected to be infested 15
Number of Council houses disinfested as precautionary
measure 15
Number of other houses found to be infested 6
Number of other houses disinfested 6
Householders are urged to seek the assistance of the Health
Department immediately they suspect the presence of bugs or
similar pests.