On the current situation of infestation of the City of Magdeburg with the house rat (Rattus rattus [L.]).

On the current situation of infestation of the City of Magdeburg with the h ouse rat (Rattus rattus [L.]). In the City of Magdeburg, the current incidence (1998/99) of the house rat (Rattus rattus [L.]) was studied by way of cooperation with those concerned (millers, storekeepers, warehous keepers) as well as business and persons involved in pest control. The 'blue attic rat' was detected on ten premises or properties (grain mills, silos, big food companies). Many of the buildi ngs have been infested with the house rat for years. Frequently, control ac tion has failed to turn out successful and hence, not taken at all because of the high cost of eradication involved. Referring to the house rat re-app earing or detected after control action, it was difficult to decide whether it was a re-infestation or just remainders of the previous population of t he buildings.