Rat problems and a case of an elderly nursing patient bitten by a roof rat

Abstract

Recent infestation of roof rats in urban areas has caused serious problems among old people who need social welfare services. A questionnaire to care workers in Tokyo revealed cases of old people bitten by rats. Our examination of one of these cases showed that it had been caused by a roof rat. Care workers also claimed in the questionnaire that rooms had been fouled with droppings, residents had been bitten by rat mites, and rat noise disturbed their sleep at night.