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25.
DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION.
The number of disinfections of rooms after infectious disease and for
other reasons was 65. The number of articles disinfected in this connection
at the Council's disinfector was 294. During the year 557 rooms were
sprayed for verminous conditions and the number of articles disinfected was
10,850 In this connection sanitary notices were served in respect of
68 houses (121 rooms).
In addition to the articles disinfected for infectious disease etc.,
the Department carried out disinfection of articles for private firms in the
Borough, and various goods were disinfected, for which charges amounting to
£24 were made.
The new method of disinfection reported in 1956 continues to prove
satisfactory and the economy in cost as compared with the previous methods
was maintained. It is estimated that on a full year's working the saving is
£170.
During the year 457 families were removed to new housing accommodation
on the Borough Council's housing estates, as compared with 354 families in
1958- This work entails a considerable amount of additional work for the
staff. All furniture is disinfested by Hydrogen Cyanide prior to removal to
the new accommodation by a firm of contractors under the supervision of the
officers of the Department.
When informed by the Housing Department of the families to be removed,
an officer of the Public Health Department visits to ascertain the amount of
furniture per family and to make arrangements as to whether one or more
families can be removed in the one furniture van. By this means there is
a considerable reduction in the cost of removals.
The vans are usually met at 8 a.m. at a rendezvous on the date of
removal and it is our duty to see that all the furniture is placed in the
van and the tenant given instructions with regard to food as well as seeing
that arrangements are made for the reception of soft goods after disinfestation
has taken place.
When the furniture is loaded on the van it is taken to the Disinfecting
Station; the van is then sealed and charged with HON. The whole of the
contents are disinfested for approximately four hours, the van is then
opened, tested, and when clear of HCN the van moves to the new flat and the
furniture is delivered. Soft goods (that is, bedding, mattresses etc.)
which are collected at the same time as the furniture by the Borough
Council disinfecting van, are disinfected by the Council's disinfecting
apparatus and returned at the same time as the furniture. The next morning
the whole of the furniture is chemically tested to make sure that the whole
of the HCN has been removed from the furniture and furnishings.
Much work has been done during the year in connection with the
prevention of the breeding of cockroaches and beetles. Hot water ducts in