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A daily parade, inspection and constant supervision continued until the
morning of the 27th March when it was considered by the Medical Officer of
Health that, since no secondary case had been discovered in the hostel, the
period of risk was over.
The total number of persons vaccinated during the period 10th/27th March
was 220 which comprised merchant seamen passing through the hostel, the resident
staff and other persons employed at the hostel, viz., painters, laundrymen
etc.
One secondary case was reported but this occurred in the hospital to
which the original patient had been admitted."
(Sgd.) G. DRING.
Port Health Inspector,
V. MEASURES AGAINST RODENTS.
1. Steps taken for the defection of Rodent Plague
The Port Health Authority employs 12 Rodent Officers working in conjunction
with and under the guidance of the Sanitary Inspectors.
The Rodent Officers' first duty is the examination of such ships in his area
as are due for inspection under Article 28 of the International Sanitary Convention
relative to the granting of Deratisation and Deratisation Exemption Certificates.
His second duty is to visit ships arriving in his district, to search for dead
rats, paying particular attention to vessels which have arrived for plague infected
ports, to visit such vessels during the discharge of cargo and, if possible, obtain
specimens of any rats on board for bacteriological examinations, The existence of
rodent plague on board should thus be detected at the earliest possible moment.
The Rodent Officers third duty is the examination of shore premises for signs
of rat infestation or rat plague, paying particular attention to premises adjoining
the berths of vessels from plague infected ports. Specimens of the shore rat population
are regularly examined bacteriologically.
In 1941 the Port Health Authority instituted a Rodent Control Scheme in all
the docks and premises of the Port of London Authority, on behalf of that Authority,
and in the premises of the tenants of the Authority on behalf of the occupiers.
This scheme,, in its early days, relied principally on trapping but with experience
and the application of a more up-to-date knowledge of the habits of rats,
new and scientific methods of poisoning gradually took the place of trapping, the
latter now only being used to clear up residual rats, if any, which have escaped a
major poison operation, The work done under the Rodent Control Scheme is the subject
of separate reports.
2. Measures taken to prevent the passage of rats between ships and shore-
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