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Friday, November 4, 2005
Hungary's lesson in rodent war
FELIX CHAN
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Hong Kong has taken lessons from Hungary to help curb the
growing threat of rodent-borne diseases.
It is conducting a pilot anti-rodent study in selected villages,
drawing on experience in the European country.
A paper prepared for the Legislative Council panel on environmental
affairs says there have been 43 reported cases of rodent-related
diseases in Hong Kong in the first nine months of this year, one fewer
than for all of last year and nearly triple 2000's tally.
It says Hungarian pest-control experts had found they could control
rats by exploiting their territorial behaviour and "neophobia" - fear
of anything new or unusual - as part of a control programme.
Rats usually choose a territory bounded by physical barriers such as
roads, exposed open spaces, playgrounds and the like. Once rats
occupying a particular area had been eliminated, it could usually be
kept rodent-free by various control measures.
For the Hong Kong scheme, staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene
Department will lay poisoned baits in selected areas. The infestation
rate will be monitored for a year and maintained at low levels by
control measures.
The government says if the pilot study shows promise, the protocol and
experience of the programme can be promoted to the public, estate
management bodies and other government departments.
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