Mari-Gail Lasam-Cruz, marketing manager for Bayer Advanced Racumin in the Philippines, together with West Crame’s barangay health workers and the rest of the Racumin RatAttack Team, place Racumin products in several rat-prone areas of Barangay West Crame.

Over the weekend, news flash gave out an alarming number of Leptospirosis incidences, a disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.  It is usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with urine of infected animals such as rats.  Symptoms include: high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice or yellowing of skin and eyes, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.  As the rainy season shows no sign of stopping, more similar cases may be expected. Thus, rat infestation should never be taken lightly.

“A staggering 3.6 million rats are born each day and each one of them is a potential carrier of not only Leptospirosis but many life-threatening diseases,” tells Mari-Gail Lasam-Cruz, marketing manager for Bayer Advanced Racumin in the Philippines. 

At least 10 different kinds of life-threatening diseases are carried by rats.  Apart from Leptospirosis, among them are, Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium, Eosinophilic Meninggitis, Murine Typhus, and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) which is particularly deadly for human.  “Rats are also known to bite sleeping children in their attempt to eat bits of food that have not been washed off their hands when they go to sleep,” she adds.

However, despite the known dangers that rats pose, most people are still at a loss on how to effectively eradicate them.  And while some efforts can produce good results for a while, it is only when whole communities come together and become continuously vigilant and committed that a long-term solution becomes possible.  That’s what Racumin “RatAttack” public service campaign is all about. 

A two-part activity, RatAttack is a community-based information campaign drive on the health risks caused by rat infestation and an organized rescue of these communities to help control unwanted and dangerous rodents.  Educational leaflets and Racumin products are distributed to the selected community in an effort to jumpstart rodent control.

“Our theme this year, “Protecting Your Family and Community,” reflects our effort to communicate that by having a rat-free city, you are actually protecting your family and community from all the diseases that these pests can bring,” Cruz explains.

Understanding the enemy
   
During on-ground activations, lectures on rat behavior are also done to give communities better knowledge on how these pests act.  For example, do you know that rats are intelligent and adaptable creatures? Proof of this is their ability to outwit the several means with which men have tried to eradicate them.  Snap traps, glue boards, zapper traps, and most recently, instant-kill rat poisons all proved unsuccessful through the years.

“The main reason why most rats learn how to outsmart other products is that they can immediately observe the effect they have on poisoned rats,” says Cruz.  “Rats are also very good at avoiding detection, so even if you don’t see them running around your house, it doesn’t mean that they’re not there.”

Rats are most active during the first half of the night when food is abundant while mice are generally active at night, both right after dark and between midnight and dawn.  Have you ever seen gnawed objects, urine and droppings, dark greasy smudges caused by their repeated contact with the wall, and tracks consisting of five toes in the back and four toes in front with tail drag marks or heard squeaking during the night?  Rats could already be infesting in your home.

“To help detect the presence of rats, you may want to use Racumin Tracking Powder, which is effective as both bait and tracking powder.  Rats will lick the Racumin Tracking Powder that stick to their fur and get a lethal dose while leaving marks that can help you find out where they nest,” Cruz suggests.

Community involvement

Cruz reiterates the vital role of community involvement in effectively getting rid of rats for the long-term.  “This is the reason why we have come up with this campaign.  It is important to remember that rats multiply in numbers really fast.  Females reach sexual maturity at five weeks of age and go into heat every four to five days from then on unless they’re pregnant or nursing. Each female rat can have as much as seven litters a year, with each litter producing an average of 10 to 12 baby rats, which will eventually likewise reproduce as they mature only after a few weeks.”

Good housekeeping and sanitation are basic factors in rat control.  By simply depriving these pests the food, water and harborage they need, you are already doing a lot to reduce the population. 

Cruz concludes, “When everyone is doing their part, it is only then that we and our families can be totally safe and free from these menacing rodents. We should all be responsible for the cleanliness of our households. With rats, we need to be more vigilant, and not let them slowly take over our homes.”

(Write the author at wellbeing@mb.com.ph.)