National Campaign Against Rat Disease

The Minister is taking a look at some of the rats trapped in a cage

KOTA KINABALU : A national campaign on rat control was launched  by Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government, Dato’ Abdul Rahman Dahlan this morning.

He said the campaign is carried out throughout the nation following  several Leptospirosis cases, a disease carried by rats,  highlighted  in the media  in June 2013.

“ The number of cases  is on the rise  but  the awareness on Leptospirosis  is very low among the people,” he said.

Abdul Rahman said  according to the the statistics released by the Ministry of Health, in 2011 there were 2268 reported cases with 55 deaths, and the number increased to 3665 cases with 48 deaths in 2012. Up to June 1^st this year the figure stood at 1768 reported cases with 18 deaths.

" This shows the infestation problem by rats is on the rise and had raised concern and had to be given due consideration,” he said while delivering his speech before launching the National Campaign on Rat Control at the Community Hall, Menggatal here.

Abdul Rahman said we need to remind ourselves of the death cases that took place due to this disease at Lata Bayu, Baling in Kedah, Lubuk Yu, Maran in Pahang, in Malacca and several cases in Sarawak and other places throughout the country.

“On this awareness basis, the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government has taken initiative to combat the repeat of this  Leptospirosis. The Ministry has launched nationwide community programmes simultaneously to clean-up the public places, including the markets, retail shops and other common areas,” he added.

The event was attended by the  Member of  Parliament  for Sepanggar, Datuk Jumat Haji Idris, Mayor of the Kota Kinabalu City Datuk Abidin Madingkir, heads of government agencies and invited guests.-/PENERANGAN