Shanghai drive to rid city of rodents

SHANGHAI: White-collar workers in the city should think twice if they want to bring food to work. It would also bring in little companions likely to destroy their appetite - the rats.

A recent survey by Shanghai municipal center for disease control and prevention has shown that office buildings have become a new haven for rats.

The reason, aside from the allure of foods, is because of the intricate structure of office buildings, with numerous pipes and inter-layers within the structure serving as an ideal habitat for the rats, said Xu Renquan, an expert from the center. "There are also management problems. Office buildings are usually leased to different tenants. So it's difficult to coordinate their efforts to kill the rats," Xu said.