Community Hygiene
Rodent Control
National Objective:
This program will benefit low and moderate-income persons. Rodent infestation greatly contributes to the decay seen in many communities. Rodents cause extensive food loss and are destructive to property. Many individuals use rodentcide to attempt to eliminate the problem, however, this may create other potential problems when such poisons are not properly handled. Poisons not handled by trained professionals, may cause harm to children, animals and the environment. This community-wide program educates the public on ways to reduce rodent populations through “rat-proofing” buildings and maintaining proper sanitation.
The Miami-Dade County Health Department proposes to continue and expand the Comprehensive Rodent Control Program. In this year’s funding, the program will cover and provide services to the entire Miami-Dade County area. Services to be provided include, but are not limited to: rodent control complaint investigations, public education and training, rodent surveys, public and town hall meetings and active participation in community/regulatory task forces, community presentations, activity progress reports, code compliance and enforcement. For example, the department has developed a brochure in English, Spanish, and Creole and other educational materials to educate and train the public on rodent control/abatement. The inspectors and supervisors that work for this program are highly trained, qualified and experienced in the area of community hygiene, which includes rodent control/abatement activities. The program’s staff routinely surveys communities to identify and document rodent problems (i.e. harborage, rodent activities and unsanitary conditions).
Once these issues are identified, a plan of action to control rodent activities will be put in place and implemented. A community/ regulatory base approach will be utilized to identify/address non-compliance issues (health and safety standards, solid waste, flooding/standing water, sewage overflows, housing violations and others). The program’s staff informs and educates in the community’s primary language, empowering the population to take control over this serious problem, and to protect the health, safety and property of their families. Finally, the program coordinates/conducts regular meetings with homeowners associations, and state and local regulatory agencies to review, evaluate and address code violations.
Description:
The comprehensive rodent control program for the residents of Miami-Dade
County, to reduce the active rodent population by eliminating 95%
of all identified environmental factors under the control of the
residents. Rats and mice are disease carriers and can cause over
twenty (20) infections and severe illness including plague, typhoid,
salmonella, leptospirosis, rat bite fever and Hantavirus. Many of
these illnesses can be fatal and have the greatest impact on the
most vulnerable members of our community including the very young
and the elderly. Reduction in the rodent population reduces these
serious public health threats, and improves housing conditions.
Miami Dade County Health Department will provide limited rodent
abatement through a contractor whenever conditions constitute an
imminent health and safety risk according to Florida statutes Chapter
386.041.
Public Health Impact: The diseases carried by rats and mice can temporarily incapacitate or cause death. Children and the frail elderly are often the victims. The diseases from rodents can spread quickly within the community and reach epidemic proportions.
Community Impact: Rodents cause tremendous damage in the community and the losses are both human and economic. Illnesses caused by rodents result in lost productivity and in many cases, expenditure through publicly funded health care facilities. Rodents also contaminate and destroy food supplies in warehouses, grocery stores, and homes. In addition, rodent infestation in buildings and homes can cause damage and even fires from gnawing electric wiring. Rodents and garbage can have the largest negative impact on the quality of life in specific neighborhoods than any other environmental conditions.
Objectives:
I. Conduct rodent surveys in communities of poor sanitation
conditions, using the Department of Health data
II. Develop a database to store and analyze all specific rodent
survey information
III. Investigate 100% of all rodent complaints (public and municipal)
reported to the program within three working days.
IV. Provide public education and information to the residents of
Miami Dade County
on rodent control and abatement and community hygiene. Organizing
clean
up campaigns in target areas.
V. Provide quarterly report to track the compliance with the objectives.
VI. Provide limited rodent abatement when conditions warrant intervention.
The Miami-Dade County Health Department will determine when conditions
constitute an imminent health and safety risk according to Florida
Statutes Chapter 386.041.
Objective I
Key Activities
1. Use existing environmental quality index data to identify/select
potential target areas
to conduct rodent surveys.
2. Select communities with poor sanitation conditions using existing
Environmental
Quality Index.
3. Conduct block-by-block comprehensive surveys of selected target
areas.
Objective II
Key activities
1. Develop specific scientific forms to capture rodent
data from target areas.
2. Analyze information in database to efficiently utilize resources
for the benefit of the
residents of Miami Dade County
2. Analyze the data gathered by the surveys and develop a course
of action for control
rodent population.
Objective III
Key Activities
1. Investigate all rodent complaints received within three
(3) working days.
2. Investigate and track all reported rodent bites reported to program.
3. Initiate referrals to other code enforcement agencies for violations,
which do not
fall under the program.
4. Conduct cleanup campaigns in areas that are identified as having
major problems
with trash and Garbage.
Objective IV
Key Activities
1. Conduct presentations on rodent control and abatement
for residents of Miami Dade
County (Public schools, Parks and other local government agencies).
2. Distribute rodent control brochures to the residents or organizations
in three
languages (English, Spanish and Creole).
3. Provide educational information to assist the public on controlling
the environmental factors that supports the growth of the rodent
population.
4. Enlist the aid of community leaders to help disseminate and coordinate
educational activities.
5. Organize clean up activities with the participation of residents
and Miami Dade County agencies including: solid waste, code enforcement
and other local governmental agencies.
6. Participate in health fairs and other community events to ensure
that information is
reaching the residents.
Objective V
Key Activities
1. Enter data surveys, inspections, rodent bites, and complaints
into database.
2. Generate management reports to track compliance with the objectives.
3. Generate quarterly report.
Objective VI
Key Activities
1. Identify conditions that warrant intervention from field
surveys and complaints.
2. Establish a contract for rodent extermination service.
3. Follow-up inspections to determine the effectiveness of extermination
process.
4. Implement measures to insure the rodent infestations do not re-occur.
These
measures will include rodent proofing and eliminating conditions
that contributed to
the original infestations.
About Community Hygiene
The Miami-Dade County Health Department manages a comprehensive
neighborhood improvement project designed to identify and eliminate
public health issues in Miami-Dade County and improve the welfare
of the community. This project encompasses four different but interrelated
programs. The programs are as follows;
Neighborhood Improvement: This program entails
a systematic application of surveys (Environmental Quality Index
{EQI}) [download EQI update] , resident involvement, education,
enforcement, interagency cooperation and evaluations
Sanitary Nuisance: The Miami-Dade County Health Department responds
to all citizen complaints of sanitary nuisances and has an ongoing
surveillance program. Health education and code enforcement is utilized
to abate sanitary nuisance issues. [download complaint form] ,
Public Health Safe Streets: Through cooperation between with law
and code enforcement agencies, organized multi-agency task force
operations are created to reduce potential health hazards and criminal
activities.
Rodent Control: Door to door assessments of the community are conducted
in order to identify and abate potential rodent problems in target
areas. Rodent control is achieved through education and enforcement.
In addition, the MDCHD responds to all citizen complaints
Thanks to the support of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners
over the past years, the Miami-Dade County Health Department (MDCHD)
has been able to enhance services that protect the health and safety
of our residents and visitors. These services include:
MDCHD conducts Environment Quality Index (EQI) surveys in pre-selected
and random areas throughout the county. [download EQI update]
Target areas are identified by deploying a systematic application
of EQI surveys and also reviewing and identifying public health
hazards. EQIs have identified that 48% of the areas surveyed have
rodent and vector problems.
MDCHD conducts community interaction by attending public meetings
and through education obtain resident involvement. The MDCHD responds
to all citizen complaints of sanitary nuisances.
The MDCHD in cooperation with other local, state and federal law
and code enforcement agencies participates in multi-agency operations
in order to identify and abate potential health hazards in abandoned
houses, condemned structures and in high crime areas where criminal
activities can be reduced or eliminated.
Neighborhood Improvement
Goals: To maintain a comprehensive neighborhood improvement
program through a systematic application of surveys, residents involvement,
education, enforcement, interagency cooperation and evaluation in
order to eliminate existing public health concerns and improve housing
conditions. Apply enforcement of Florida Statutes of Chapter 386
in the event of non-compliance.
Sanitary Nuisance
Goals: Implement a rapid response of all citizen and agency
sanitary nuisances complaints. Apply enforcement of Florida Statutes
of Chapter 386 in the event of non-compliance
Public Health Safe Streets
Goals: To coordinate and cooperate with local, state and
federal agencies and institute a comprehensive multi agency task
force in order to reduce potential health hazards (sanitary nuisance)
and criminal activities. Obtain rapid corrective action through
joint enforcement. Apply enforcement of Florida Statutes of Chapter
386 in the event of non-compliance
Rodent Control
Goals: To provide a door to door assessment of the community
and respond to citizen complaints about specific rodent control
issues. Provide information on rodent control methods that the homeowner
can perform by themselves to eradicate the rodents.
Collection Procedures for Dead Birds in Miami-Dade
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