Pest Control

The rounds of Rodent Activity Survey (RAS) for the first half and the second half of 2024 have been completed, and the overall Rodent Absence Rates (RAR) are 95.1% and 94.0% respectively.

The RAR serves to reflect the situation of the locations infested with rodents.  If no signs of rodent infestation are detected by thermal imaging cameras at a location, the data of that   non-infested location will not be included in the calculation of RAR for the relevant district.  The survey results of each round of the RAS will be analysed, and the locations for installing thermal imaging cameras will be adjusted as appropriate in the following round of the RAS based on the analysis findings.  Given the dynamic nature of the situation of survey locations, minor fluctuations of the overall RAR are expected for different survey periods.

The RAR is a useful indicator that enables the FEHD to effectively deploy resources and implement targeted rodent prevention and control measures according to the RAS results.  Specifically, the FEHD will:

• analyse the spatial and temporal distribution of rodents shown in the thermal images captured by thermal imaging cameras at locations with lower RARs to obtain a clear picture of rodents’ activities and their dispersal routes at such locations;
• deploy resources from locations with higher RARs to those with lower RARs, and carry out suitable measures to strengthen the rodent prevention and control work at the locations concerned, which include:

  • redeploying pest control teams to strengthen the daytime rodent prevention and disinfestation work for better resource allocation and efficiency;

  • stepping up rodent trapping operations by overnight rodent control teams at locations with lower RARs;

  • investigating the source of rodent infestation at nearby venues and premises.  If premises are found to be infested with rodents, the FEHD will intervene and, when necessary, arrange for staff to carry out vermin disinfestation operations inside the premises concerned;

  • providing health education and taking enforcement actions at nearby food premises and private buildings to ensure proper waste disposal;

  • strengthening street cleansing services and combating illegal refuse dumping in the vicinity; and

  • inviting nearby food premises to participate in the scheme of placing large-size waste containers in rear lanes and urging the premises to step up rodent prevention and control, with a view to improving the environmental hygiene of rear lanes.

For the first half of 2024, the RARs for a total of 90 survey locations were below 80%, indicating that rodent activities were more active at the locations concerned.  Of these, nearly 90% (78 locations) saw improvement for the second half of the year, with 42 of them achieving an RAR of over 90%.  This reflects the fruitful results of the targeted measures adopted on the basis of the analysis findings of the RARs.

The RAS results for all districts across the territory in 2024 are provided below: