[Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Wycombe R.D.C.
- High Wycombe (England). Rural District Council.
- Date:
- 1969
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Wycombe R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![SECTION ”FM PEST INFESTATION CONTROL At the present time it is estimated that rats and mice cause total damage throughout Europe to the extent ot £2,000 million per year., In this country the loss is in the region of £20 million per year. The total world loss of stored cereals and rice, for which rats in the main are responsible, is estimated to be 33 mil] ion tons per year-. At the same time, more than 20 per cent of the crops planted by man every year is eaten or spoiled by rodents and insects before harvest. Rats are also associated with the spread of disease. Disease spreader and destroyer of food and property- the rat is probably the most cunning and adaptable of man’s companions on the face of the earth, and wherever found should never be allowed to ravage unchecked. The extermination of rats is certainly one of the less glamo- rous sides and perhaps one of the least publicised sides to the work of the health department, One of the main chemicals used throughout the world as a rodenticide-warfarin - was first introduced into Britain some 17 or l8 years ago# Since its use there have been reported cases of warfarin resistence in a mainly rural area just outside Scotland., and more recently there have been cases in Montgomery and Shropshire on the Welsh border and the smaller adjoining area at Ludlow. Counter measures to combat the spread of resistant rats into other areas included establishing a three mile wide barrier around the affected areas and the use of the acute poison, zinc phosphide. A new poison known as coumatralyl has recently been given Ministry approval for use in this country against warfarin resistant rats and mice, With the use of long established poisons such as zinc phosphide, fluoracetamide, for the control of rats in sewers, warfarin and now the coumarin compounds, we should be able to reduce rodent infestations to an absolute minimum.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29428361_0085.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
