The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (February 28) that the overall Rodent Infestation Rate (RIR) for the second half of 2016 dropped slightly to 3.8 per cent, compared with 4.2 per cent in the first half of the year. The overall RIR for 2016 was 4 per cent, slightly higher than the figure recorded in 2015 (3 per cent).

     An FEHD spokesman said, "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 2016, except for Sham Shui Po (10 per cent)."

     He added, "The relatively higher RIRs in some districts were mainly caused by poor hygiene conditions at specific spots such as 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 spokesman said that the FEHD would maintain its regular anti-rodent work in all districts, which includes street cleaning and conducting rodent disinfestation operations such as poisonous baiting and trapping of rats, and filling rat holes at places as appropriate. The department will encourage active participation of the community in rodent prevention and control work so as to keep the environment clean and reduce the hiding places of rodents and the food sources. It will also carry out public health education and publicity.

     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 form a joint task force and launch special rodent prevention and control operations to strengthen rodent disinfestation, environmental improvement and cleaning services comprehensively, and promote rodent prevention and control in the community.

     "The district RIRs may not fully reflect the actual situation of overall 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 front-line 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 with relevant government departments this year to encourage public participation. The first phase was launched in early January and will run until March 10. The second phase, to last for 10 weeks, will be launched in July.

     During the campaign period, the FEHD will enhance 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 peripheries.

     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/Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:00

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