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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (August 21) that the overall Rodent Infestation Rate (RIR) for the first half of 2015 was 3.2 per cent, almost the same as the figure in the second half of 2014 (2.9 per cent).
An FEHD spokesman said, "According to a territory-wide survey conducted by the department, the RIRs of all districts were below 10 per cent for the first half of this year, suggesting that the rodent infestation in public areas in the city was generally under control. The district that recorded the highest RIR was Kowloon City (8.3 per cent)."
The spokesman said, "Although the RIRs of all districts were in the low single digits, the FEHD will 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 prevention and control in all districts.
"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."
There is no internationally adopted RIR. When devising the RIR, the FEHD 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, and 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 then form a joint task force and launch special rodent prevention and control operations to strengthen rodent disinfestation, environmental improvement and cleansing services comprehensively, and promote rodent prevention and control in the community.
"The district RIRs may not fully reflect the actual situation of rodent infestation in the 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 completed in March and the second phase, launched early last month, will run until September 4.
During the campaign period, the FEHD has enhanced its inspections and rodent prevention and control measures in target areas including markets, municipal services buildings, hawker bazaars, typhoon shelters, lanes adjacent 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 prevention and control measures and the RIR, please visit the FEHD website at www.fehd.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, August 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:31
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