Experts Call for Environmental Cleaning as Primary Rodent Control, Advise Against Baits at Home
Public health professionals advocate for environmental cleaning as the primary method for rodent control, supplemented by baits or traps. They advise against using rodenticides in homes to prevent parasites from spreading after rodents die.
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- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 18:22
- 🔍 Collected: May 4, 2026 at 18:31 (9 min after Published)
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, 4th) As citizens report the presence of rats on Taipei streets, public health professionals state that rodent control should focus on breaking the rodent survival chain, primarily through environmental cleaning, with poisons or traps as supplementary methods. Vector control experts warn against using baits for household rodent control, to avoid parasites spreading from dead rats.
The rodent problem has caused concern. Hsu Er-lieh, an honorary professor of entomology at National Taiwan University and a vector expert, pointed out that rats are a global urban problem. In the past, during periods with more infectious diseases, the government conducted a nationwide rat extermination campaign annually. However, because rodenticides were used at the time, this was opposed by civic groups, and it has not been carried out in recent years.
Rats' activities vary in different areas. Hsu Er-lieh noted that rats are nocturnal animals and only come out during the day when their density is high. If rats are seen during the day, it indicates a more severe infestation.
Regarding rodent control, Hsu Er-lieh said it is more important for the public to implement their own prevention measures. However, in general households, using baits is not recommended because if rats die in hidden places, the smell can be very unpleasant. Additionally, fleas, mites, and other parasites on the rats will crawl everywhere. He suggests physical methods such as rat traps, glue boards, and live traps are more suitable for removal.
If a rat is caught on a glue board, Hsu Er-lieh suggests putting it in a plastic bag and patting it. Without air, the rat will quickly die. If a rat is caught in a live trap, it should be handled with tongs or gloves, and direct contact should be avoided.
In addition, the Taipei Public Health Nurses Association today issued a press release stating that rats are hosts for various zoonotic diseases, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, and pathogens that can cause murine typhus and rat-bite fever.
Regarding prevention efforts, the association emphasized that the core should be breaking the rodent survival chain, rather than just relying on post-cleanup. Mature rodent populations pose the greatest health threat. Simply poisoning or trapping rats without environmental remediation may disrupt the ecosystem and accelerate disease transmission. The correct strategy should prioritize environmental cleaning, supplemented by baits or traps, and adhere to the three major principles: "Don't let rats come, don't let rats stay, don't let rats eat."
When cleaning basements, warehouses, attics, and other spaces where rats may appear, the association reminds people to pay attention to personal protection, including wearing disposable masks and gloves throughout the process to avoid direct contact with rat feces, urine, or contaminated items. Contaminated areas should first be disinfected with diluted bleach (1:10) or alcohol, then wiped with a damp cloth. Do not sweep or pat directly to avoid stirring up pathogen-containing particles.
The association also noted that after cleaning, indoor ventilation should be maintained, and waste should be properly sealed and packaged. Children and pets should be kept away from cleaned areas. If symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, or difficulty breathing appear afterward, seek medical attention immediately and proactively inform the doctor about contact with rats or their excrement. (Editor: Wu Su-jou)1150504
The rodent problem has caused concern. Hsu Er-lieh, an honorary professor of entomology at National Taiwan University and a vector expert, pointed out that rats are a global urban problem. In the past, during periods with more infectious diseases, the government conducted a nationwide rat extermination campaign annually. However, because rodenticides were used at the time, this was opposed by civic groups, and it has not been carried out in recent years.
Rats' activities vary in different areas. Hsu Er-lieh noted that rats are nocturnal animals and only come out during the day when their density is high. If rats are seen during the day, it indicates a more severe infestation.
Regarding rodent control, Hsu Er-lieh said it is more important for the public to implement their own prevention measures. However, in general households, using baits is not recommended because if rats die in hidden places, the smell can be very unpleasant. Additionally, fleas, mites, and other parasites on the rats will crawl everywhere. He suggests physical methods such as rat traps, glue boards, and live traps are more suitable for removal.
If a rat is caught on a glue board, Hsu Er-lieh suggests putting it in a plastic bag and patting it. Without air, the rat will quickly die. If a rat is caught in a live trap, it should be handled with tongs or gloves, and direct contact should be avoided.
In addition, the Taipei Public Health Nurses Association today issued a press release stating that rats are hosts for various zoonotic diseases, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, and pathogens that can cause murine typhus and rat-bite fever.
Regarding prevention efforts, the association emphasized that the core should be breaking the rodent survival chain, rather than just relying on post-cleanup. Mature rodent populations pose the greatest health threat. Simply poisoning or trapping rats without environmental remediation may disrupt the ecosystem and accelerate disease transmission. The correct strategy should prioritize environmental cleaning, supplemented by baits or traps, and adhere to the three major principles: "Don't let rats come, don't let rats stay, don't let rats eat."
When cleaning basements, warehouses, attics, and other spaces where rats may appear, the association reminds people to pay attention to personal protection, including wearing disposable masks and gloves throughout the process to avoid direct contact with rat feces, urine, or contaminated items. Contaminated areas should first be disinfected with diluted bleach (1:10) or alcohol, then wiped with a damp cloth. Do not sweep or pat directly to avoid stirring up pathogen-containing particles.
The association also noted that after cleaning, indoor ventilation should be maintained, and waste should be properly sealed and packaged. Children and pets should be kept away from cleaned areas. If symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, or difficulty breathing appear afterward, seek medical attention immediately and proactively inform the doctor about contact with rats or their excrement. (Editor: Wu Su-jou)1150504