Don't allow roaches to escape into homes during fogging

Cockroaches have the habit of searching for food in dirty places such as rubbish bins, chutes, drains and sewers at night ("Roach problem: Prata Wala licence suspended"; last Wednesday).

As they frequent latrines, they can easily spread germs that cause conditions such as diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid fever and cholera.

Everyone has a responsibility to ensure that we live in a clean environment so that diseases do not spread easily and that our health is not compromised.

Besides carrying out inspections at food stalls and eateries, the National Environment Agency should also see to it that the Housing Board and town councils ensure roaches do not invade homes.

Whenever fogging of the rubbish bins is undertaken in my estate, there is very poor coordination between the workers carrying out the fogging and the cleaners.

Once the fogging is under way, cockroaches crawl out from the chutes, and onto the floors and walls of void decks.

Because the cleaners do not get rid of them immediately, these insects make their way back into homes and even childcare centres. Sometimes, the roaches crawl all over for days.

Cleaners should immediately remove the roaches before they escape into homes. If not, it would defeat the purpose of fogging.

Raymond Anthony Fernando

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 21, 2016, with the headline Don't allow roaches to escape into homes during fogging. Subscribe