EFFICACY OF LARGE-SCALE RAT AND COCKROACH CONTROL ACTIONS IN BUDAPEST AS SHOWN BY EXPERIENCES OVER A 23-YEAR PERIOD

Abstract:
Pest control in urban environment can be carried out either sporadically or in a concentrated way, covering large areas. The efficacy of organized pest control programs comprising large parts of cities or even whole cities is far higher than the success of separate control works done by individual methods. Having recognized this fact and taking into account the above modern aspects, the City Council of Budapest organized an overall deratization action covering the entire city of Budapest, capital of Hungary. as well as cockroach control actions comprising housing estates built by panel construction. As a result of a total deratization action carried out by Bhbolna Bioenvironmental Centre in 1971-72, the initial 32.8 % rat infestation of properties has been decreased to below 0.5 %. The success of this action allowed Budapest, a city with 2.2 million inhabitants to become rat-free in 1972. Due to the systematic maintenance works following deratization conducted since 1973. rats have not been neither a public health, economic or general feeling problem in Budapest for 23 years now. As a result of the large-scale cockroach control action carried out in Budapest between 1978-1990, 144,800 flats, 2 million sq.m public area in dwelling houses, I million sq.m area in public establishments (schools, trade units, etc.) as well as 700,000 sq.m public health area (hospitals, social welfare homes, etc.) have become cockroach-free. This practically insect-free state could be saved on the long term due to the maintenance works carried out following the control itself. During the years of proper control, the large-scale pest control programs carried out in Budapest over the past 23 years have implied higher costs than usual. These control actions have been, however, followed in each case by the continuous maintenance works carrying less costs. As a result of the complex pest control and maintenance programs in Budapest have not only been more successful than the average, but have proved to be more profitable economically ;IS well.