A SIX-WEEK rodent-bait distribution is being turned into a full-scale, islandwide project because of the large numbers of people collecting the bait.
Maurice Gaskin, senior environmental officer of the Vector Control Unit (VCU) of the Ministry of Health, said that the distribution, which was scheduled to end yesterday, could be carried on for an additional eight weeks to ensure every part of the island was reached.
Gaskin was speaking from Sam’s Bar in Glebe Land, St George, as the VCU was doing a rat-bait distribution in that parish where they gave out more than 1 500 packets from three locations in Taitt Hill, Charles Rowe Bridge and Glebe Land.
He said the response had been overwhelming and the drive was to distribute 1 200 packets initially but because of demand, an additional 300 packets had to be brought in.
Gaskin noted that from the time the venues opened at 9 a.m., there were long lines and it had continued like that throughout the day until noon when the distribution ended.
Gaskin said that the VCU has to respond to at least 15 complaints per week for rodents across the island and when they investigated, it showed that vacant lots, illegal dumping and food businesses discarding food and cooking oil was impacting the number of rodents.
He said that Geographic Information System along with the complaints that come in from the six catchment areas showed that St George was of major concern and so the parish was targeted yesterday.
“St George is a place that is known for food crop cultivation and with canes will see increased rodents. Also persons who discharge their waste water as well as their cooking oil into the roads will get food scraps into the canals and drains, and the rats will follow,” Gaskin said. (LK)
