New Taipei City Targets 2,590 Rat Infestation Hotspots, Focusing on Source Control to Combat Hantavirus
New Taipei City Government announced enhanced measures against hantavirus, targeting 2,590 high-risk rat infestation areas. The strategy emphasizes source management, household self-inspections, and expanded disinfection and rodenticide application based on reports, urging public cooperation.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 14:56
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, 6th) The New Taipei City Government today announced that it has listed 2,590 high-risk rat infestation areas across the city and will focus on source management for prevention, encouraging household self-inspection. If rat sightings are reported, the surrounding cleaning and disinfection operations will be expanded, and rodenticide application will be intensified to prevent the risk of hantavirus.
Cheng Ta-wei, Director of the New Taipei Environmental Protection Bureau, stated at today's city council meeting that high-risk rat infestation areas include locations prone to water accumulation, vacant lots and houses, and places where recyclable waste accumulates. The prevention strategy centers on environmental cleanliness, primarily focusing on physical control (environmental tidying to reduce rats) and supplementing with chemical control (application of rodenticides inside and outside homes).
Regarding the safe application of rodenticides, Cheng Ta-wei said that "rat bait stations" with warning signs are used for outdoor applications. Additionally, when citizens request rodenticides for home use, they will be educated on safe usage and provided with instructions.
Chen Run-chiu, Director of the Health Bureau, reported that after receiving a suspected hantavirus case in March this year, the bureau conducted epidemiological investigations, contact tracing, environmental cleaning, and disinfection in accordance with central guidelines, and is closely monitoring the epidemic's development. There has been one cumulative case this year, and the patient has already recovered and been discharged.
Sheng Hsiao-jung, Director of the Economic Development Bureau, and Feng Chao-lin, Director of the Public Works Department, also stated that they are enhancing environmental cleaning and disinfection for market food waste, side ditches, and lunchboxes consumed by construction workers.
Cheng Ta-wei told a Central News Agency reporter in a phone interview that this year's city-wide spraying, side ditch dredging inspections, and Lunar New Year cleaning all included rat prevention efforts. The focus remains on tidying up the external environment and household rat prevention matters.
Cheng Ta-wei said that the government bears an undeniable responsibility for rat prevention, which is similar to dengue fever prevention, but it still relies on the collective efforts of all citizens to eliminate living spaces for rats in households. New Taipei currently has no scientific data indicating an increase in rat populations; the 2,590 high-risk rat infestation areas are based on statistics from daily patrols by cleaning teams and will be reviewed dynamically. As for whether New Taipei will follow Taipei City in launching "rat detectives," the effectiveness of actual measures remains to be observed.
Mayor Hou Yu-ih stated in a joint interview that in response to the risk of hantavirus, the city government has integrated health, police, and environmental protection units for comprehensive epidemic prevention. It is promoting prevention according to the central government's principles of "don't let rats come, don't let rats stay, don't let rats eat," urging citizens to cooperate with weekly cleaning days, clear kitchen waste and debris, and jointly reduce the risk of virus transmission. (Editor: Long Po-an) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, 6th) The New Taipei City Government today announced that it has listed 2,590 high-risk rat infestation areas across the city and will focus on source management for prevention, encouraging household self-inspection. If rat sightings are reported, the surrounding cleaning and disinfection operations will be expanded, and rodenticide application will be intensified to prevent the risk of hantavirus.
Cheng Ta-wei, Director of the New Taipei Environmental Protection Bureau, stated at today's city council meeting that high-risk rat infestation areas include locations prone to water accumulation, vacant lots and houses, and places where recyclable waste accumulates. The prevention strategy centers on environmental cleanliness, primarily focusing on physical control (environmental tidying to reduce rats) and supplementing with chemical control (application of rodenticides inside and outside homes).
Regarding the safe application of rodenticides, Cheng Ta-wei said that "rat bait stations" with warning signs are used for outdoor applications. Additionally, when citizens request rodenticides for home use, they will be educated on safe usage and provided with instructions.
Chen Run-chiu, Director of the Health Bureau, reported that after receiving a suspected hantavirus case in March this year, the bureau conducted epidemiological investigations, contact tracing, environmental cleaning, and disinfection in accordance with central guidelines, and is closely monitoring the epidemic's development. There has been one cumulative case this year, and the patient has already recovered and been discharged.
Sheng Hsiao-jung, Director of the Economic Development Bureau, and Feng Chao-lin, Director of the Public Works Department, also stated that they are enhancing environmental cleaning and disinfection for market food waste, side ditches, and lunchboxes consumed by construction workers.
Cheng Ta-wei told a Central News Agency reporter in a phone interview that this year's city-wide spraying, side ditch dredging inspections, and Lunar New Year cleaning all included rat prevention efforts. The focus remains on tidying up the external environment and household rat prevention matters.
Cheng Ta-wei said that the government bears an undeniable responsibility for rat prevention, which is similar to dengue fever prevention, but it still relies on the collective efforts of all citizens to eliminate living spaces for rats in households. New Taipei currently has no scientific data indicating an increase in rat populations; the 2,590 high-risk rat infestation areas are based on statistics from daily patrols by cleaning teams and will be reviewed dynamically. As for whether New Taipei will follow Taipei City in launching "rat detectives," the effectiveness of actual measures remains to be observed.
Mayor Hou Yu-ih stated in a joint interview that in response to the risk of hantavirus, the city government has integrated health, police, and environmental protection units for comprehensive epidemic prevention. It is promoting prevention according to the central government's principles of "don't let rats come, don't let rats stay, don't let rats eat," urging citizens to cooperate with weekly cleaning days, clear kitchen waste and debris, and jointly reduce the risk of virus transmission. (Editor: Long Po-an) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.