Witch-doctor, Knoti Kilongiremwana (78), holds the remnants of crops, part of the harvest destroyed by rats in Mkula village.
Rats and humans are coming into increased conflict, making the transmission of diseases like plague and leptospirosis (Weil's disease) more likely and increasing the likelihood of transmission of new diseases.
In Tanzania a UK funded research project is under way to determine the impact on health of eliminating rats from villages.