The Wilmington morning star., 1945-09-20
COUNTY T0START
BUSTING PROGRAM

Preparations for pre-dusting in
one of the five zones in which the
area has been divided was started
last Tuesday by workers in the
New Hanover county typhus con-
troll program which will involve
the busting of practically all resi-
dences and buildings in the county
with DOT.
Conducted by the U. S. Public
Health Service, the program is ex-
pected to require 10000 pounds OF
the busting substance and the SER
vices of one foreman and four
crewmen for about IL months, DR..
A. H. Elliot, head of the city.
county health department, said to-
day.
The actual spreading Of the DOT
is expected to be started within
the next few days, he disclosed,
or as soon as sufficient prelimi-
nary data on rats and heas has
been gathered.
! The program, set up with a view
to eliminate Heas on rats, under a
Federal typhus control appropria-
ton. is expected also to result in
the radiance of a large number OF
reaches. water bugs and other in
sects from New Hanover buildings
DR.. Elliot said.
The district director of the prof.
ect, who will supervise the cam
naien in the four North Carolina
counties selected for such expert
mentation, now is in Wilmington
getting the New Hanover program
started, the health officer reveal
ed.
Work is already underway in
Craven and Wilson counties, ne
continued, and a program will be
set up in Sampson county.
DR.. Elliot reported total OF 10
cases of typhus in this county So
far this year, with 81 being re-
ported for all Of 1914.
Plans include the busting OF
every building twice during the
l12-montl. period, with each dust
ing expected to be good for from
four to six months.
The pre-dusting work, being done
by the same personnel as will
handle the actua. spreading Of the
DOT. includes the catching OF as
many rats as possible in a certain
area of the city-which will be
selected as a representative cross
section-and the combing Of the
rodents for fleas, DR.. Elliot ex.
planned. Then the number OF heas
on each rat will be counted and
the rats blood tested for typhus.
The places where the rats were
found then will be busted and the
remainder OF the area will be
treated. At the end OF about 81
DAYS, he continued, the workers
will comb for fleas all the rodents
they find in the same buildings as
previously covered and work out
the percentage Of reduction in flea
population per rat.
The county has been divided into
five zones and these boundaries
|, will be followed strictly unless q
case of typhus occurs In a zone
other than that which is being
worked at the time, DR.. Ellio'
, said. In that case, the house If
which the typhus is reported viii
be promptly sprayed and an effor
made to ascertain where the In
lection originated.
He said he had not received ar
undue number of requests from
persons wanting their homes treat
led fist, although the majority o.
residents seem anxious to have
their places busted.
He revealed that it requires less
than a pound of the DOT for each
residence Rural homes probably
cannot be visited unless in thick
ly populated area, he said.
If no one is home tn first time
the workers call at a house, they
will leave a note saying just when
they will return. Then, on their
second visit, if no one is there,
that house will not be revisited
during that busting, Dr. Elliot said.