Councilors express concern over rat infestation; Lu Shiow-yen: Strengthen environmental cleaning to prevent Hantavirus
Following rat infestations and Hantavirus cases in Taipei, Taichung City Council members urged the city government to strengthen similar preventive measures. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated that Taichung had one Hantavirus case in 2024 and has since strengthened environmental cleaning, with no cases reported this year.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 15:37
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 16:01 (24 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 16:03 (1 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hao Hsueh-ching, Taichung, 6th) The rat infestation in Taipei, coupled with Hantavirus cases, has drawn concern from both ruling and opposition councilors in Taichung City. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated today that Taichung City had a Hantavirus case in 2024, and since then, environmental cleaning has been strengthened to ensure Hantavirus does not reappear.
Taichung City Council held its regular session today to review a special report by the African Swine Fever incident investigation team, but councilors were more concerned about the rat infestation in Taipei. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilors Chen Yu-jung, Chen Shu-hua, Chou Yung-hung, and Kuomintang (KMT) councilor Liu Shih-chou all demanded that Taichung City also strengthen its prevention efforts.
Chen Yu-jung believes that Taichung City is deeply embroiled in a 'food waste chaos,' with Beitun District sanitation workers dumping food waste into ditches, the Wufeng 'food waste lake,' and slow progress on food waste disposer subsidies. The disorganized management of food waste and discarded items creates a perfect breeding ground for rats. He warned that if Taichung City does not act promptly to fix these loopholes, waiting until a rat infestation erupts to extinguish it will come at a much higher cost than acting now.
Chen Shu-hua stated that the rat infestation and Hantavirus infection cases in Taipei were due to negligence and lax prevention. Garbage, food waste, and dirty ditches and sewers provide a breeding ground and food source for rats, thus eradicating rat feeding is the primary task in rodent control.
Chou Yung-hung pointed out that Taichung City has successively experienced animal public health incidents, including African swine fever, avian influenza, and dead fish in the Tanzi Stream. Netizens directly commented that Lu Shiow-yen has 'all three animal disasters,' catching up to Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's 'rat chaos' where rats run rampant under his administration. Citizens are deeply uneasy, and he reminded that markets and night markets also need strengthened cleaning.
In response, Lu Shiow-yen mentioned that Taichung City had one Hantavirus infection case in 2024. In addition to routine environmental cleaning, environmental cleaning has been strengthened during this period; it's not just now that it's being strengthened, but it has been an ongoing effort for years. There have been no Hantavirus infection cases reported last year or so far this year.
Wu Sheng-chung, Director of the Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau, stated that various departments will jointly prevent rat infestations, including markets and night markets managed by the Economic Development Bureau, construction sites by the Urban Development Bureau, and parks and green spaces by the Construction Bureau, all working together to strengthen implementation. The city government has procured 16 tons of rat poison this year, and communities in need can apply for it. Rats eat many things, not just food waste, so everyone should strengthen prevention to achieve 'no rats coming, no rats living, no rats eating' to prevent rat infestations. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Hao Hsueh-ching, Taichung, 6th) The rat infestation in Taipei, coupled with Hantavirus cases, has drawn concern from both ruling and opposition councilors in Taichung City. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated today that Taichung City had a Hantavirus case in 2024, and since then, environmental cleaning has been strengthened to ensure Hantavirus does not reappear.
Taichung City Council held its regular session today to review a special report by the African Swine Fever incident investigation team, but councilors were more concerned about the rat infestation in Taipei. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilors Chen Yu-jung, Chen Shu-hua, Chou Yung-hung, and Kuomintang (KMT) councilor Liu Shih-chou all demanded that Taichung City also strengthen its prevention efforts.
Chen Yu-jung believes that Taichung City is deeply embroiled in a 'food waste chaos,' with Beitun District sanitation workers dumping food waste into ditches, the Wufeng 'food waste lake,' and slow progress on food waste disposer subsidies. The disorganized management of food waste and discarded items creates a perfect breeding ground for rats. He warned that if Taichung City does not act promptly to fix these loopholes, waiting until a rat infestation erupts to extinguish it will come at a much higher cost than acting now.
Chen Shu-hua stated that the rat infestation and Hantavirus infection cases in Taipei were due to negligence and lax prevention. Garbage, food waste, and dirty ditches and sewers provide a breeding ground and food source for rats, thus eradicating rat feeding is the primary task in rodent control.
Chou Yung-hung pointed out that Taichung City has successively experienced animal public health incidents, including African swine fever, avian influenza, and dead fish in the Tanzi Stream. Netizens directly commented that Lu Shiow-yen has 'all three animal disasters,' catching up to Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's 'rat chaos' where rats run rampant under his administration. Citizens are deeply uneasy, and he reminded that markets and night markets also need strengthened cleaning.
In response, Lu Shiow-yen mentioned that Taichung City had one Hantavirus infection case in 2024. In addition to routine environmental cleaning, environmental cleaning has been strengthened during this period; it's not just now that it's being strengthened, but it has been an ongoing effort for years. There have been no Hantavirus infection cases reported last year or so far this year.
Wu Sheng-chung, Director of the Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau, stated that various departments will jointly prevent rat infestations, including markets and night markets managed by the Economic Development Bureau, construction sites by the Urban Development Bureau, and parks and green spaces by the Construction Bureau, all working together to strengthen implementation. The city government has procured 16 tons of rat poison this year, and communities in need can apply for it. Rats eat many things, not just food waste, so everyone should strengthen prevention to achieve 'no rats coming, no rats living, no rats eating' to prevent rat infestations. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150506
Stand with the facts, your sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.