SANITATION 
IN THE CONTROL OF INSECTS AND RODENTS 
OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE 
by Wilfred H. Johnson, Sanitarian (R) 
INTRODUCTION 
General 
Sanitation is the most important principle in the 
control of flies and rodents. This concept is also 
of considerable importance in the control of mos- 
quitoes, particularly in urban areas. Sanitation has 
been defined as “A modification of environment in 
such a way that a maximum of health, comfort, 
safety and well-being occurs to man.” It is, es- 
sentially, applied animal ecology effecting a modi- 
fication of environment which results in conditions 
adverse to the continued existence of certain 
vectors and pests. Only recently has the necessity 
of this approach to vector control been realized. 
Research and community demonstration pro- 
grams have shown conclusively that the application 
of the basic principles of sanitation result in sub- 
stantial reductions in the fly, rodent and mosquito 
populations. In a number of communities it has 
been estimated that proper refuse sanitation will 
do 90 percent of the job in fly control and 65 per- 
cent in rat control. In most communities, good 
refuse sanitation, together with good general main- 
tenance of premises, will greatly reduce the pest 
mosquito population. 
The methods formerly relied upon almost ex- 
clusively, namely, chemical and mechanical con- 
trol, still hold an important place but should be 
looked upon as adjuncts or supplements to the 
basic, biological approach. The failure of chemi- 
cals to insure complete and lasting control has 
resulted in the current change of emphasis in this 
field. In th e case of rodents, reducing the capabil- 
ity of the environment to support a large number of 
rodents not only decreases this population but 
results in an increase in competition between those 
individuals remaining. This increased competition 
results in a lower rate of reproduction and higher 
mortality. 
Scope of Chapter 
Insect and rodent infestations in homes, in 
businesses, and on farms result from neglect of 
basic responsibilities for cleanliness. Food, har- 
borage, and water — life essentials for insects and 
rodents — occur frequently in and around all types 
of buildings wherever these vermin prevail. Vermin 
prevalence increases rapidly as the standards of 
maintenance and living drop. Substandard housing 
and business and industrial neighborhoods produce 
and maintain greater and more widespread vermin 
populations than well kept, clean residential and 
business areas. Lack of knowledge, carelessness 
and indifference are usually the basic reasons for 
the existence of such conditions. 
A successful approach to resolving such prob- 
lems and developing an effective program involves 
public education and promotion of sanitary prac- 
tices by the individual and the community. Results 
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