The rodent infestation rate for the first half of 2009 was 8.5% with the rate for most districts falling between 2.7% and 8.4%, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department says.

Five districts recorded levels higher than 10% - Southern (11.8%), Islands (12%), Eastern (15.6%), Tuen Mun (16.7%) and Kwun Tong (18.8%).

The higher figures in some districts were mainly attributable to unsatisfactory hygiene conditions in rear lanes, including accumulation of unused articles, improper handling of food remnants, or inadequate rodent control measures adopted in factory buildings.

The department has enhanced rodent disinfestation operations in the five districts and improvements have been seen. The rodent infestation rates of Southern District have dropped to 8.6%, Islands 9.3%, Eastern 5.2%, Tuen Mun 11.8% and Kwun Tong 10%.

In the first six months, the department trapped and eliminated 13,700 rats and filled 3,800 rat holes. About 3,300 warnings were issued during inspections.