Minister criticizes war against rats

Minister criticizes war against rats

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi criticized the city
administration's policy in curbing the spread of postflood
leptospirosis disease by killing rats, saying that the most
important thing is to clean up the former flooded areas.

He told journalists on Monday that rats, which carry the
disease, was one carrier of the disease, while the major cause
was garbage.

"The disease has spread because of the garbage resulting from
the flooding, and humans came into contact with the water
(contaminated by rats' urine). It would be more effective if we
asked the people to disinfect their houses," Sujudi remarked.

Governor Sutiyoso has called on people to kill rats in order
to curb the spread of leptospirosis, which so far has claimed
nine lives. He did not instruct people on how to kill the
rodents.

People can be infected if rat urine in the floodwater enters
the skin through a wound or the bacteria is accidentally
consumed.

The mounting garbage that is left untransported in many parts
of the city, especially in traditional markets, has helped boost
the population of rats.

Sutiyoso's efforts to curb the postflood disease, however,
have not involved the sanitation agency.

The minister tried to calm the people by playing down the
possibility of further spreading of the disease as it was not
airborne. "Besides, the disease can be cured with common
antibiotics, such as penicillin, so the spreading will not be as
fast as other contagious diseases," Sujudi said.

He underlined that his office was monitoring the spread of the
disease and that there was no sign of further infections.