Sat, May 09, 2026 page8

• EDITORIAL: Resisting the rat invasion

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  Increased rat sightings in Taipei have sparked concerns over urban sanitation, the risk of hantavirus and the Taipei City Government’s ability to respond effectively. However, as alarming headlines and social media posts circulate, it is important that the public and local governments approach the issue with a measured understanding of the facts.

  There is no evidence of an impending hantavirus epidemic in Taiwan. In January, the nation recorded its first hantavirus-related death in 26 years when an elderly resident of Taipei’s Daan District (大安) died from sepsis, multiple organ failure and pneumonia after eight days in hospital. After his death, authorities captured four rats near his residence, two of which tested positive for the virus. Since then, only one additional non-fatal case has been confirmed this year, bringing the total to two — consistent with recent years.

  While the hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius has drawn international attention, Taipei’s situation is fundamentally different. Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva.

  According to the WHO, strains in Asia have a case fatality rate of roughly 1 to 15 percent, and there have been no documented cases of human-to-human transmission in the region. This does not mean the disease should be dismissed, but it does mean the situation does not warrant widespread panic. The most effective way to reduce risk is straightforward: reduce contact between humans and rodents.

  In response to public concern over Taipei’s rat problem, the city government has expanded rodent control measures, primarily through anticoagulant rodenticides.

  Local authorities cited the near doubling of dead rats in March compared with February as evidence that extermination efforts are working. However, reliance on poison-based pest control has drawn criticism from environmental groups, public health experts and some lawmakers, who argue that rodenticides are neither sustainable nor risk-free.

  Taipei reportedly uses bromadiolone — a powerful anticoagulant introduced in the 1970s — which can move through the food chain when predators such as snakes and birds of prey consume poisoned rodents. According to the Raptor Research Group of Taiwan, more than 61 percent of examined raptor carcasses from 2021 to 2024 contained traces of rodenticides. In Taipei and Keelung, 92 percent of sampled crested goshawk carcasses tested positive for rodenticides — a troubling indicator for a native raptor that helps regulate rodent populations.

  The long-term effectiveness of rodenticide use is also doubtful. In several countries, rat populations have developed resistance to anticoagulant poisons after prolonged exposure. Overdependence risks a cycle where larger doses are required for diminishing returns. Some have also raised concerns about pets consuming rodenticides. While Taipei uses bittering agents to reduce accidental ingestion by pets and humans, the risk of secondary exposure remains if pets consume poisoned rodents.

  Rodenticides and traps play an important role in controlling severe infestations, particularly in dense urban environments. However, relying on them alone is not a substitute for addressing conditions that allow rats to thrive. Like many urban pests, rats flourish where food and shelter are easily accessible. Poor garbage management, overflowing food waste and unsanitary conditions around markets, restaurants and densely populated neighborhoods create ideal breeding conditions. If these issues persist, extermination campaigns alone are unlikely to produce lasting results.

  Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) on Tuesday announced additional measures, including sealing rat burrows, improving sanitation enforcement and requiring market vendors to clean premises after closing. These are more sustainable approaches and should form the foundation — rather than a supplement — of the city’s long-term pest-control strategy.

  The recently launched Rat Radar reporting platform, created with input from residents, could serve as an important data source for identifying infestation hotspots and allocating resources more effectively.

  Beyond reporting rat sightings, the public must take responsibility for protecting their households and the wider community. In a densely populated city like Taipei, poor hygiene or hoarding in a single home or alleyway can quickly affect entire neighborhoods.

  Cleanliness and waste management are shared civic duties. Effective urban rodent control requires a multifaceted approach encompassing coordinated sanitation, stricter enforcement of waste management regulations and greater emphasis on each person’s role in maintaining community hygiene. Without these, efforts merely address symptoms rather than root causes.

  Taipei’s rat problem is real, but sensationalism, fear and finger-pointing must not overshadow the need for concrete, sustainable action.
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