Measures against infected rats11
Where a local authority or port health authority have reason to believe that rats in their district or port health district are threatened by or infected with plague, or are dying in unusual numbers, they shall if the district or port health district is in England report the matter to the Chief Medical Officer for England or if such district is in Wales to the Chief Medical Officer for Wales and take measures for destroying all rats in the district or port health district and for preventing rats from gaining entry to buildings.