Taipei City: Over 100 Rat Detectives to Help Communities with Prevention, Not Trapping
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced the launch of 'Rat Detectives' to assist with rodent prevention in households. The city government stated today that the team will comprise over 100 personnel, focusing on identifying the source of rodents and providing prevention advice rather than trapping. Despite some initial skepticism from the Minister of Environment regarding the new term, the city emphasizes there is no increase in Hantavirus cases, aiming to reassure citizens. The initiative will prioritize community-based prevention efforts.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 16:18
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 16:31 (12 min after Published)
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Central News Agency (Reporters Chen Yu-ting, Liu Chien-pang, Taipei, May 6) – Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced the launch of "Rat Detectives" (鼠類偵防師), with experts assisting households in rodent prevention. The city government stated today that the team of detectives will exceed 100 personnel. Their job is not to catch rats, but to help citizens identify the sources of rodents.
Regarding Chiang Wan-an's proposed rat detective service, Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming stated today that it was the first time he had heard this term, and suggested it might be better to seek professional help from those who handle rats and disease vectors.
Chiang Wan-an, interviewed by the media before attending the Taipei City Council for interpellation this afternoon, stated that the professional certifications held by private professionals are identical to those held by the Environmental Protection Bureau's disinfection team personnel who serve as detectives.
He emphasized that yesterday, through a press conference, the current situation and subsequent enhanced measures were clearly explained to citizens. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare has repeatedly stated that there is no escalating trend in the Hantavirus epidemic. The city government's current number of cases is identical to the same period in previous years, so citizens can rest assured and need not panic.
Chiang Wan-an stated that regardless of whether there are many or few rats, the city government team will fully commit to prevention and eradication. Therefore, the second round of comprehensive large-scale cleaning across 12 districts will be arranged. If judged necessary or if new developments occur, the city government will promptly inform the public. The details of the detective service, which provides prevention advice for private domains such as households, will also be announced soon by the Environmental Protection Bureau.
Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau Director Hsu Shih-hsun added that the detectives' job is not to catch rats, but to help citizens understand the essence of the "three no's of rat prevention" – 'no allowing rats to come, no allowing rats to eat, no allowing rats to live' – and to identify problem areas in their homes.
Regarding personnel, Hsu Shih-hsun said it's impossible to rely solely on the current disinfection team of over 80 people. Other auxiliary personnel will be arranged, definitely exceeding 100. Drills are currently being arranged to understand how to best allocate resources and to adjust as appropriate based on actual situations.
As for the application method for rat detectives and the schedule for the next 12-district large-scale cleaning, Hsu Shih-hsun said that further reports would be made to the public later, but the hope is to operate on a "community" basis, because rats do not stay within a single household. (Edited by Hsiao Po-wen)1150506
Regarding Chiang Wan-an's proposed rat detective service, Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming stated today that it was the first time he had heard this term, and suggested it might be better to seek professional help from those who handle rats and disease vectors.
Chiang Wan-an, interviewed by the media before attending the Taipei City Council for interpellation this afternoon, stated that the professional certifications held by private professionals are identical to those held by the Environmental Protection Bureau's disinfection team personnel who serve as detectives.
He emphasized that yesterday, through a press conference, the current situation and subsequent enhanced measures were clearly explained to citizens. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare has repeatedly stated that there is no escalating trend in the Hantavirus epidemic. The city government's current number of cases is identical to the same period in previous years, so citizens can rest assured and need not panic.
Chiang Wan-an stated that regardless of whether there are many or few rats, the city government team will fully commit to prevention and eradication. Therefore, the second round of comprehensive large-scale cleaning across 12 districts will be arranged. If judged necessary or if new developments occur, the city government will promptly inform the public. The details of the detective service, which provides prevention advice for private domains such as households, will also be announced soon by the Environmental Protection Bureau.
Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau Director Hsu Shih-hsun added that the detectives' job is not to catch rats, but to help citizens understand the essence of the "three no's of rat prevention" – 'no allowing rats to come, no allowing rats to eat, no allowing rats to live' – and to identify problem areas in their homes.
Regarding personnel, Hsu Shih-hsun said it's impossible to rely solely on the current disinfection team of over 80 people. Other auxiliary personnel will be arranged, definitely exceeding 100. Drills are currently being arranged to understand how to best allocate resources and to adjust as appropriate based on actual situations.
As for the application method for rat detectives and the schedule for the next 12-district large-scale cleaning, Hsu Shih-hsun said that further reports would be made to the public later, but the hope is to operate on a "community" basis, because rats do not stay within a single household. (Edited by Hsiao Po-wen)1150506