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Written by: Chen Shuxia
2020-03-27 07:00
Last updated: 2020-03-27 07:00The outbreak of the new coronavirus (commonly known as Wuhan pneumonia) has continued to infect rodents in the community. According to the Food and Health Bureau, the average expenditure of the Hong Kong Government on rodent control in the past 11 years was 150 million yuan. A total of 54,000 mice were captured and poisoned last year, an increase of nearly 22% year-on-year.
Some pest experts say that most people think that rats are more active in summer, but in fact, the rat problem in Hong Kong is regardless of seasons. After the outbreak of the New Crown epidemic, the authorities may lose sight of each other and neglect to supervise outsourced contractor control work. Experts are also worried about the herd of rats or moving to residential houses for food, suggesting that the public can use rodent glue to extinguish rodent infestations, and that they should cover the trash cans and use bleach to clean the rat-infested areas.
Rodent problems have been identified from time to time in many districts in Hong Kong. (Profile picture)
The problem of rat infestation is getting worse. In September last year, the world's first human case of human infection with rat hepatitis E virus broke out. So far, there have been 8 cases. The plague occurred in the Mainland earlier, which caused panic. The Hong Kong Government established the Pest Control Steering Committee two years ago to co-ordinate inter-department rodent control work. Last year, it launched the "Cleans-wide" operation to strengthen community cleaning and rodent control. The FEHD is also conducting intensive anti-rodent operations in public markets. A new round of anti-rodent operations will be conducted in six public markets in February this year. The effectiveness of the operations will be reviewed in June and effective models will be extended to other markets.
Rat catch up 44% last year
A review revealed that the FEHD had captured and poisoned 44,000 mice in the previous year, with Sham Shui Po District having the largest number of 6,094. The number of mice captured in Kowloon City had the largest increase, nearly 7 times in ten years. Last year, 53,000 mice were captured and poisoned. The volume of capture alone has increased by nearly 44% year-on-year.
The government set up an inter-departmental pest control committee two years ago to discuss pest control policies, but the effectiveness of civil criticism has been questionable. (Information picture / Government Information Office picture)
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department sets up a rodent reference index survey every year, places rat baits in selected areas, counts the percentage of rodents gnawed by rats, and sets up a three-level reference index system (see below), which recorded 4 in 2016 and 2018 respectively. %, 3.5% and 3.4%. However, the index has limitations, and the rat bait used for evaluation is only a few days, which does not reflect the actual rodent situation. Several Legislative Councillors have repeatedly questioned whether other indicators will be introduced. The Bureau stated that it would remain open.
Tier 1 (index below 10%):
Indicates that rodent infestation was not common during the survey.
FEHD staff will perform routine rodent control and rodent control work, and during the investigation, rodent rodent control will be performed at locations where rodent infestations were found.
Level 2 (index from 10% to less than 20%):
This indicates that the rat situation was slightly prevalent during the survey.
FEHD's staff will cover the entire range of rodent populations during rodent operations.
Level 3 (with an index of 20% or above):
Indicating that rodent infestation was widespread during the survey, and rat herds may have formed. The FEHD will set up an inter-departmental working group, chaired by the District Environmental Hygiene Director, responsible for coordinating regional rodent control, including strengthening cleaning services, and assisting other departments in their efforts. Control rodent control and promote rodent control information in the community.
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It is understood that the FEHD is preparing to use thermal energy detection cameras, coupled with artificial intelligence analysis, to evaluate the effectiveness of rodent control. The data can be used to compare rodent infestation before and after rodent killing operations. It can also detect the entry points, paths and frequent areas of rodent activity, which can put rodenticides and mousetraps more effectively, making the rodent killing work more targeted. The FEHD has previously used Kowloon City as a pilot, and will then expand it to all districts in Hong Kong to establish a new rodent surveillance mechanism with quantitative functions.
Epidemic prevention work may cause "upward development" of mice
The chairman of the Hong Kong Pest Control Practitioners Association, Leung Kwong Yuen, said that rodent infestation is a long-term concern in the community, but Hong Kong has been affected by the epidemic for several months. He is worried that the authorities may lose sight of each other and neglect to monitor and control rodent control. He also said that although the epidemic prevention work helps maintain the environment Hygiene, but mice may "upwardly develop" and run into houses.
He reminded that if rats were found in homes or offices, rats could be sterilized by using mouse stickers. They should also cover the trash can and clean up the debris to prevent rats from finding food and hiding. The rear door allotment can also be used to prevent rodents. If there is any sign of rat infestation, the countertops and the ground should be cleaned with bleach. If you are looking for a pest control company, you should choose carefully.
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