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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (February 26) that the overall Rodent Infestation Rate (RIR) for the second half of 2014 dropped slightly to 2.9 per cent, compared with 3.6 per cent in the first half of the year. The overall RIR for 2014 was 3.2 per cent, almost the same as the figure recorded in 2013 (3.1 per cent).
"According to a territory-wide survey conducted by the department, rodent infestation in public areas in the city was generally under control as the RIRs of all districts were below 10 per cent for the second half of 2014, except for Kowloon City (11.1 per cent)," an FEHD spokesman said.
"The relatively higher RIRs in some districts were mainly caused by poor hygiene conditions at specific spots and rear lanes, including the accumulation of disused articles, indiscriminate disposal of refuse and improper handling of food remnants, which provide shelter and food for rodents. The FEHD has strengthened rodent prevention and control work as well as the general cleansing work in the relevant districts, e.g. by stepping up inspection and cleansing of rear lanes adjacent to food premises so as to reduce the food sources and hiding places of rodents. The FEHD has also enhanced publicity and education efforts in the districts to remind residents and commercial tenants of the importance of adopting anti-rodent measures," he added.
The spokesman said that the FEHD would also maintain the momentum of its regular anti-rodent work, which includes street cleaning, eliminating and trapping rats in rear lanes, filling rat holes, and carrying out public health education and publicity on rodent control in all districts.
There is no internationally adopted RIR. When devising the RIR, the FEHD has made reference to overseas practices and the actual situation of Hong Kong. The overall RIR is the average infestation rate of the districts during the period. The district RIR assesses the rodent problem in public places surveyed during the surveillance period.
The district RIR is divided into three levels. Level 1 (less than 10 per cent) indicates that rodent infestation is not extensive in the area surveyed. Level 2 (between 10 per cent and 19 per cent) indicates that rodent infestation is slightly extensive in the area surveyed. The FEHD will strengthen rodent disinfestation operations there. Level 3 (20 per cent or above) indicates that rodent infestation is extensive. The relevant government departments will form a joint task force and launch special rodent control operations to strengthen rodent disinfestation, environmental improvement and cleansing services comprehensively, and to promote rodent control in the community.
"The district RIRs may not fully reflect the actual situation of rodent infestation in individual districts concerned. When conducting rodent prevention and control operations, the FEHD makes appropriate adjustments to the work in individual districts from time to time, taking into account reports from frontline staff and the views of the relevant District Councils, and the local community, as well as the district RIR," the spokesman said.
Effective rodent prevention and control hinges on sustained co-operation between the community and the Government. The FEHD, as in previous years, has rolled out a two-phase territory-wide anti-rodent campaign this year to encourage public participation. The first phase was launched in mid-January and will run until March 20. The second phase, to last for nine weeks, will be launched in July.
During the campaign period, the FEHD enhanced its inspections and rodent control measures in target areas including markets, municipal services buildings, hawker bazaars, typhoon shelters, lanes close to food premises and other problematic spots and their periphery.
On the public education front, the FEHD will continue to organise publicity and educational events at different levels of the community across the territory. The department will also work closely with District Councils to effectively drive home messages on rodent prevention and control.
For more information on rodent control measures and the RIR, please visit the FEHD website at www.fehd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, February 26, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:30
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