Rein in rats - Health official wary of threats caused by uncertified cookshops; urges proper garbage clean-up to prevent rodent infestation

While videos have been circulating on social media revealing the presence of rats at or outside restaurants associated with at least two local fast food franchises, health and pest control experts have revealed that of greater concern is the state of affairs at the “overwhelming” number of uncertified cookshops popping up around the island.

Dr Linnette Peters, director of veterinary public health at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, speaking with The Sunday Gleaner last week, cautioned consumers to look out for certification whenever they go to a restaurant to ensure that it meets the required standards, as she has found that small cookshop operators, especially, often do not seek to be certified.

“They are supposed to be certified and the person carrying out the food preparation should have a food handler’s permit, and that also should be on display,” Peters said.

“Unfortunately, the sale of food in these small settings, it is overwhelming. The Ministry of Health is overwhelmed by these people and they are sometimes mobile, so they are not at the same place, and so it is a challenge for us to keep track of these people.”

Peters comments came as she noted that, with an average of more than 150 persons diagnosed with leptospirosis each year, the ministry has a programme where probes are carried out once suspected cases are laboratory confirmed.

“We would do a field investigation to determine the source of the infection, so we would go in, interview and also look around the surroundings and habitat to see what would be the source of exposure,” she told The Sunday Gleaner, noting that the Public Health Department generally does assessments for rodents at food establishments before granting a stamp of approval.

But, with the holiday season now in the rearview, she also urged individuals to ensure that the garbage amassed during weeks of festivity are properly disposed of as a check against rodent infestation.

“Our major problem in Jamaica with rodents has to do with the pile-up of garbage, which is a source of food for rats, and it is very important for us to dispose of our garbage properly, especially those that are food-related. So, if we remove the food, definitely we would reduce the population,” she said.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria known as leptospira. It is transmitted through the urine of infected animals like rodents, dogs, farm animals and horses.

Peters said that while leptospirosis can be fatal, she has found that not many Jamaicans are taking the proper precautions to minimise their risk of exposure to the disease.

“Rats, they multiply frequently, so their gestation period is about three weeks, and they have at least about 10 to 12 little pups, you could call them, and so they multiply rapidly, once they have a source of food. When you see one rat, you can tell yourself that there are many, many more around,” she said.

Given the threat of leptospirosis, she said it is incumbent on owners of restaurants and food establishments to rodent-proof their businesses. They should also place bait at strategic locations and ensure that garbage is disposed of properly.

A pest control expert, who preferred not to be identified, told The Sunday Gleaner that while some of the more popular fast-food restaurants generally have a programme in place to minimise rodent infestation, it is often not a similar case at small cookshops.

“You are seeing a lot of restaurants, but a lot of them don’t have rodent-management programmes in place,” the pest control expert said.

“We need to lift the standards, but if you try and tell a man say you need to do better in this area, him going to tell you say you are trying to fight him out, but really and truly, his way of doing business or handling food, it is not safe, he doesn’t have a proper area for garbage disposal, he doesn’t have a proper bathroom,” he lamented.

He said he knew of individuals who have contracted leptospirosis in the past, and cautioned Jamaicans to be vigilant.

“Him see the rat bite on a slice of bread and pinch off the bitten area and eat the rest and get leptospirosis,” the pest control expert said, adding that the individual “had to be on medication for months”.

Peters said persons with leptospirosis usually have flu-like symptoms such as coughing and fever, but there is also a manifestation of jaundice.

“If leptospirosis is left untreated, you can get kidney failure, heart and lung complication, and you can even get central nervous system involvement and multiple-organ failure,” she said.

nadine.wilson@gleanerjm.com