A petition has been started on the public initiative portal "Manabalss.lv" to prevent the spread of rats in Riga.
The initiative will be presented to the Riga municipality.
Tatjana Bodnare-Judina is named as the initiator of the initiative. She explains that the residents of Riga, especially those living in the center, have been suffering for at least two years from the increasing spread of rats and mice. A dangerous infectious disease, leptospirosis, which is carried by uncontrolled rodent populations, is spreading intensively in Riga.
The epidemiologically dangerous situation worsens in the cold season when rats and mice move indoors, contaminating food products, Bodnare-Judina explains.
In her opinion, uncoordinated rodent control conducted by management companies in separate areas may be ineffective and contribute to the migration of rodents throughout the city if it is not carried out uniformly across the city.
Bodnare-Judina notes that the placement of containers for biological waste in the city of Riga partially contributes to rat invasions, as biological waste attracts rodents. The containers are not rodent-proof, and rats can gnaw holes in them and feed from them.
The author of the initiative requests the Riga municipality to organize coordinated centralized rodent control measures throughout the city in conjunction with cleaning the area and measures to prevent a new rat invasion. Similar to the disinfection of water supply systems in the fight against legionella bacteria, combating leptospirosis and other diseases carried by rodents should be a priority for the city in caring for the health of its residents.
Bodnare-Judina also calls for the introduction of rodent-resistant containers and for regular communication with management companies regarding preventive measures.
