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31.
RODENT INFESTATION
The work of this important branch of Public Health is carried out by
a staff consisting of one Supervisor, one Investigator and four Operatives
under the general control of the Chief Sanitary Inspector The main Rodent
Infestation in the Borough is caused by the Ship Rat. A regular system of
investigation is carried out by the Investigator who makes the initial
inspection and assesses the degree of infestation.
During the year some 1869 inspections of investigation were made,.
Business Premises treated totalled 388 against 308 in 1948.
Dwelling Houses treated "598" 478 " 1948
The number of complaints received during the year was greater than in
1948.
It would appear that the public now appreciate that the Borough
Council's Rodent Service is available to all, and in the case of occupied
dwellings, it is free. A charge is made for treatment given at Business
Premises, but as this is a reasonable one, it compares favourably with
private Rodent Servicing Companies' charges, and in particular the treatment
carried out by the Local Authority is in conformity with that laid
down by the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, which is not always the
case with the Private Servicing Companies.
The majority of the 598 complaints received from dwelling houses,
showed that the infestation was of mice and it is pleasing to note that
many more complaints were received, thus giving the department information
of early infestation of rats and mice which normally would not come to
light for some considerable time or until they had become major
infestations.
Rats and mice carry and spread disease, and nobody is safe from their
contagion. They are filthy food-destroying, disease and vermin-carrying
and it is good Public Health work to wage a constant war on these rodents.
Two maintenance treatments of the sewers in the borough were carried
out in the period under review. During the operations on 13th December,
1949, officers from the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries together with
Provincial Officers, inspected the treatment being given and expressed
complete satisfaction with the manner in which the treatment was being
carried out.
In several difficult and complex cases of rodent infestation, the
Chief Sanitary Inspector has solicited the assistance of the Technical
Officers of the Ministry, and this has always been given most readily
and any application made through the Divisional Rodent Officer has been
attended to most promptly.