Scientists urge public to hand over rats for disease monitoring
The BIOR institute is asking Latvian residents to submit captured rodents for laboratory research aimed at monitoring infectious diseases among wild rodent populations. Similar monitoring has been conducted in European countries for years, but Latvia only began the practice last year.
Olga Valcina, director of the BIOR institute, said on Latvian Radio's program "Zināmais nezināmajā" that European countries have been regularly monitoring mice and rats for several years, while Latvia only started such research last year.
Public participation
According to Valcina, residents themselves can contribute to this work by handing over captured rodents for laboratory examination, helping scientists gather broader information about the country's rodent population.
Purpose of the monitoring
The main goal of the research is to track the spread of infectious diseases among wild populations of mice and rats in Latvia. Regular monitoring helps scientists identify potential public health risks linked to diseases carried by rodents at an early stage.
