Teacher under observation following report of rat infestation at La Rosière school |10 February 2015

A teacher is under medical observation following reports of rat infestation at La Rosière school.

The Ministry of Education said yesterday all the pupils occupying the class where the infestation has been reported has been relocated while measures are being taken to address the situation.

The principal secretary for Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Education Merida Delcy, other officials from the Ministry of Education and acting public health commissioner Dr Meggie Louange visited the school again yesterday to monitor the situation.

 Mrs Delcy said it was last week that the Ministry of Education received a report that there was evidence of rats’ presence in one of the classrooms.

She said steps were immediately taken to alert the Ministry of Health and other concerned authorities which mobilised and sent a team to inspect the classroom and the school premises.

“The inspection confirmed that there was an infestation in that particular classroom and immediately a pests control agency came in to do the necessary and following health advisory pupils have been relocated in other classrooms,” Mrs Delcy pointed out.

While there has been no report of any pupil being infected by leptospirosis, the bacteria spread by rats, a teacher is under medical investigation.

“It is for this reason that we are taking all the necessary precautionary measures  and monitoring the situation, educate parents more on the situation and urge them to be on the lookout and to report any abnormal symptoms in their children,” Mrs Delcy stressed.

Dr Louange confirmed that a teacher is under medical observation and is being monitored while the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation at La Rosière school.

Mrs Delcy said work to remove and replace the ceiling from the classroom concerned and others adjacent to it are being carried out as well as other necessary urgent maintenance works.

Moreover, disinfection of the entire school compound has also been carried out as well as clearing of any tree branches leaning on the school buildings.
 
“The school has not closed after the report of the incident but we have to ensure proper control of the rodents and we are working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health for expert advice on the matter,” added Mrs Delcy, noting that pupils will only be able to reoccupy the classrooms after being given the green light by competent authorities.

Dr Louange meanwhile stressed that any sign of infestation by rats is a cause for concern and all precautionary measures must be taken to prevent any spread of the bacteria they spread.

Dr Louange has reassured parents that all the necessary precautionary measures are being taken to protect pupils of the school and those parents who still have doubt can report to English River health centre to have their concerns further addressed.

Furthermore Dr Louange pointed out that the public in general has to be more concerned and take their responsibility by properly discarding their rubbish and other waste and not to throw them outside the school’s surrounding  walls as these create a conducive environment for rats to breed and subsequently move to the school premises.

“Any activities that take place on adjacent properties outside the school have a direct impact on the rat control process taking place at the school. For it to be effective and not happen again we have to be vigilant always as it does not depend only on the school,” Dr Louange pointed out.

The first phase of reconstruction of the La Rosière school is already underway and some pupils have since the beginning of this new year’s first term been relocated to the Mont Fleuri primary school.