Russian City Wages War on Rats

Russia's cultural capital, St Petersburg, has warned its residents not to approach any slow-moving, woozy rats over the next few weeks.

The pests - which are rampant in a third of the city's homes - may be laden with poison as St Petersburg embarks on a drive to rid itself of the vermin.

Poisons and ultrasonic booms are being used to kill or scare away the rodents, during a month-long purge ordered by the new mayor, Valentina Matvienko.

Officials say the situation in St Petersburg is worse than anywhere else in Russia. A simultaneous overground and underground strike is planned until May 15 to reduce infestation to 10% of buildings.

The public has been assured that the poisons are not harmful to domestic pets, but has still been warned to stay away from the rats.

Russian media reported the official advice, saying: "[If] you see a slowly moving rodent, do not touch him. Even in such a deplorable state, it can attack you, despite that fact that it will die in any case."

Every year, around 200 St Petersburgers are bitten by rats, and last year 17 people died from catching the bacterial infection leptospirosis.