Today the The World Health Organization (WHO)   declared   Hullavington a  DSB  plague hot spot.   DSB numbers  have risen  dramatically over the winter period  and  action needs to be taken immediately to prevent the  situation getting worse.  Dr Townsend, the chief medical officer of the WHO,  has voiced his concern that the infestation was allowed to go unreported for so long. 

The WHO  have  asked  for  all DSB sightings to be notified to them. They would like you to record the time and  the place of the sighting, and also the sex of the DSB.  They are not difficult to spot: the female is a sort of dirty red colour and the males have a coat that is a  much brighter red, particularly  so during the mating season.  Although the DSB is not  dangerous in itself, it does play  host to a very  dangerous bacterium. It  is best not to approach too close because, like a skunk, they can give off a really bad smell if disturbed.  DSBs are not aggressive but they  have no fear of humans and will approach very close.  In fact when our MP James Gray  kindly came along to open our new bus shelter, a DSB managed to get so  close  to the action  that it was recorded on film with James Gray.   Click (here)  to see photo