I do smell a rat
Rat number surge is 'health risk'
The number of rats in the UK has soared, posing a serious risk to public health, according to a study.
Pest controllers reported a 39% increase in call-outs to deal with brown rats from 1999 to 2005.
And the 2006 National Rodent Survey found that during those summers call-outs jumped by 69%, when rats are usually less active in urban areas.
John Davison of the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) said: "It's a grave problem."
The survey also found that the number of call-outs for mice and requests for treatment went up by 14% from 2004 to 2005 following five years of decline.
Last year it was estimated that Londoners are never more than 20 yards metres (18m) from a rat.
Mr Davidson, chief executive of the NPTA, which commissioned the research, urged authorities and the public to pay heed to the findings.
He said: "The way this is growing it is going to give rise to some kind of public health risk.
"What will it take for someone to sit up and take notice about what is going on?"
The report found litter, bird feeders, compost bins and derelict urban properties were all partly to blame for the rise.
It also suggested the failure of private water companies to clear rats from the sewers they were responsible for was another contributory factor.
But Steve Harrison from Westminster council denied demanding fees for pest control was part of the problem. He said his local authority had seen a decline in its rat population despite its inner city location.
He added: "What's more important, as with most things, is that prevention is better than cure.
"We've continued to proactively bait and treat land owned by the council."
And the actress Jane Horrocks condemned the report's conclusion that composting had contributed to the rise in rat numbers as "scaremongering".
The survey suggested that "recycling mania", as well as fly-tipping and a move by councils towards fortnightly refuse collection, was fuelling the rodent population growth.
But launching a campaign to recycle 90 million Christmas cards, Ms Horrocks said: "It is absolute rubbish. I've got two compost bins and I haven't seen a rat in all the time I've had them."
"I've not seen a rat but I do smell a rat."
The number of rats in the UK has soared, posing a serious risk to public health, according to a study.
Pest controllers reported a 39% increase in call-outs to deal with brown rats from 1999 to 2005.
And the 2006 National Rodent Survey found that during those summers call-outs jumped by 69%, when rats are usually less active in urban areas.
John Davison of the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) said: "It's a grave problem."
The survey also found that the number of call-outs for mice and requests for treatment went up by 14% from 2004 to 2005 following five years of decline.
Last year it was estimated that Londoners are never more than 20 yards metres (18m) from a rat.
Mr Davidson, chief executive of the NPTA, which commissioned the research, urged authorities and the public to pay heed to the findings.
He said: "The way this is growing it is going to give rise to some kind of public health risk.
"What will it take for someone to sit up and take notice about what is going on?"
The report found litter, bird feeders, compost bins and derelict urban properties were all partly to blame for the rise.
It also suggested the failure of private water companies to clear rats from the sewers they were responsible for was another contributory factor.
But Steve Harrison from Westminster council denied demanding fees for pest control was part of the problem. He said his local authority had seen a decline in its rat population despite its inner city location.
He added: "What's more important, as with most things, is that prevention is better than cure.
"We've continued to proactively bait and treat land owned by the council."
And the actress Jane Horrocks condemned the report's conclusion that composting had contributed to the rise in rat numbers as "scaremongering".
The survey suggested that "recycling mania", as well as fly-tipping and a move by councils towards fortnightly refuse collection, was fuelling the rodent population growth.
But launching a campaign to recycle 90 million Christmas cards, Ms Horrocks said: "It is absolute rubbish. I've got two compost bins and I haven't seen a rat in all the time I've had them."
"I've not seen a rat but I do smell a rat."
posted by duende mágico at 2:43 PM
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