【明報專訊】Rodent infestation is not only a nuisance to people's livelihood but can also lead to the spread of diseases. If one merely looks at the findings of a survey on rodent infestation by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the problem does not seem to be serious. However, one only needs to ask the residents of old districts, and many of them should comment that rodent infestation is a serious problem. The Office of The Ombudsman issued a report yesterday (26 May), pointing out that the FEHD's rodent infestation index ''might not'' reflect the actual situation. This, however, is merely an understated way of saying a fact long known to residents of old districts. When it comes to people's livelihood, nothing is too trivial a matter. Citizens' evaluation of the government's governance performance is often based on whether the government can help them solve their daily problems. If even basic work such as rodent control is handled sloppily, there is no increased sense of gain for citizens to speak of. The government should formulate appropriate key performance indicators for rodent control and press relevant departments to perform their tasks satisfactorily.