Taipei Rat Infestation Issue Escalates, Green Councilors Point to Lack of Supporting Measures for "Rat Detective" Program
The rat infestation issue in Taipei City is escalating, with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilors criticizing the city government's proposed "Rat Detective" program for lacking supporting measures and placing an undue burden on the existing disinfection team. Kuomintang (KMT) councilors also emphasized the urgency of solving the problem, as the city acknowledges a surge in rat complaints following a Hantavirus outbreak.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 16:43
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei 7th) The rat infestation issue in Taipei City is escalating. DPP councilor Lin Yen-feng stated today that the city government is promoting "Rat Detectives," but the Environmental Protection Bureau's (EPB) disinfection team was not informed beforehand. KMT councilor Yu Shu-hui said that if citizens feel the rat problem is serious, then it is serious, and Taipei City should solve the problem.
The Taipei City Council's Police and Health Committee held a special report this morning on "Review of the Current Status of Rat Infestation and Prevention Plan in Taipei City." EPB Director Hsu Shih-hsun and other officials attended.
The EPB report pointed out that environmental tidiness is paramount for rat prevention, but private areas are difficult for public prevention efforts to penetrate. Rat complaint data showed 37 cases in January, 258 in February, 90 in March, and 73 in April.
The EPB stated that the onset date of the Hantavirus case in Taipei City was January 6 this year, and the Department of Health announced the case on January 30. The number of rat complaints in February surged by about 7 times compared to January, indicating that news information about the epidemic has a certain impact on the public.
Regarding rat poison baits, the EPB stated that it uses the second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide "EPA Registration No. 1697." From January to April, 856 kilograms of rat poison bait were deployed for prevention. Warning signs are reinforced when bait is placed in large open spaces such as parks, green areas, and public places.
The report also mentioned that citizens call the 1999 hotline to ask how to deal with rats. To provide service and address concerns, the city plans to enhance rat prevention professionalism based on the "Ecological Mosquito Control Specialist" framework, planning "Rat Detectives" to serve communities. Application methods for this service will be announced soon.
Regarding "Rat Detectives," several DPP councilors questioned during the interpellation that there were no supporting measures planned and the policy was rushed.
DPP councilor Chang Wen-chieh said that the EPB's report did not mention monitoring data or rat hotspots. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced the launch of "Rat Detectives," but there were no follow-up actions, and the EPB only reported that it would be announced soon, which means there is no progress.
Chang Wen-chieh stated that "Rat Detectives" is just a name or concept, without details such as budget, staffing, and training methods. "Anyone can come up with a name; one could even say Chiang Wan-an is declaring martial law on rats."
DPP councilor Hsu Shu-hua believes that grassroots city employees work hard, but superiors are engaging in political rhetoric. The key is to solve the rat problem, not to discuss the definition of rat infestation. The city government has not yet proposed a method for counting rats but is talking about cognitive warfare.
DPP councilor Lin Yen-feng stated that the EPB's disinfection team grassroots employees only learned about taking on the "Rat Detective" duties after the city government's press conference, without any prior knowledge. The disinfection team has only 86 people in total, with heavy daily workloads. If this new duty is added, they will also have to face public criticism from the front lines.
KMT councilor Yu Shu-hui stated that the EPB's report was superficial and did not mention methods to solve the increase in rats, such as whether the recent increase in urban renewal projects in Taipei could cause rats inside buildings to flee. The city government also could not provide relevant data.
Yu Shu-hui said that if citizens feel the rat problem is serious, then it is serious, and Taipei City should solve the problem. In addition, the EPB report only contained routine work and did not mention why the number of rats increased this year. "Could it be that their eyes are clouded by karma or they think they are all abandoned domestic rats?" The city government should make up for its shortcomings.
Regarding "Rat Detectives," Hsu Shih-hsun stated that the EPB's disinfection team currently has 86 people, all of whom have professional pest control licenses. Dealing with mosquitoes and rats is their original job, and adjustments will be made according to actual conditions. The preliminary plan is for one "Rat Detective" to be paired with one to two assistants, whose job is to help households find rat holes or traces of rats. (Edited by Hsiao Po-wen) 1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei 7th) The rat infestation issue in Taipei City is escalating. DPP councilor Lin Yen-feng stated today that the city government is promoting "Rat Detectives," but the Environmental Protection Bureau's (EPB) disinfection team was not informed beforehand. KMT councilor Yu Shu-hui said that if citizens feel the rat problem is serious, then it is serious, and Taipei City should solve the problem.
The Taipei City Council's Police and Health Committee held a special report this morning on "Review of the Current Status of Rat Infestation and Prevention Plan in Taipei City." EPB Director Hsu Shih-hsun and other officials attended.
The EPB report pointed out that environmental tidiness is paramount for rat prevention, but private areas are difficult for public prevention efforts to penetrate. Rat complaint data showed 37 cases in January, 258 in February, 90 in March, and 73 in April.
The EPB stated that the onset date of the Hantavirus case in Taipei City was January 6 this year, and the Department of Health announced the case on January 30. The number of rat complaints in February surged by about 7 times compared to January, indicating that news information about the epidemic has a certain impact on the public.
Regarding rat poison baits, the EPB stated that it uses the second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide "EPA Registration No. 1697." From January to April, 856 kilograms of rat poison bait were deployed for prevention. Warning signs are reinforced when bait is placed in large open spaces such as parks, green areas, and public places.
The report also mentioned that citizens call the 1999 hotline to ask how to deal with rats. To provide service and address concerns, the city plans to enhance rat prevention professionalism based on the "Ecological Mosquito Control Specialist" framework, planning "Rat Detectives" to serve communities. Application methods for this service will be announced soon.
Regarding "Rat Detectives," several DPP councilors questioned during the interpellation that there were no supporting measures planned and the policy was rushed.
DPP councilor Chang Wen-chieh said that the EPB's report did not mention monitoring data or rat hotspots. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced the launch of "Rat Detectives," but there were no follow-up actions, and the EPB only reported that it would be announced soon, which means there is no progress.
Chang Wen-chieh stated that "Rat Detectives" is just a name or concept, without details such as budget, staffing, and training methods. "Anyone can come up with a name; one could even say Chiang Wan-an is declaring martial law on rats."
DPP councilor Hsu Shu-hua believes that grassroots city employees work hard, but superiors are engaging in political rhetoric. The key is to solve the rat problem, not to discuss the definition of rat infestation. The city government has not yet proposed a method for counting rats but is talking about cognitive warfare.
DPP councilor Lin Yen-feng stated that the EPB's disinfection team grassroots employees only learned about taking on the "Rat Detective" duties after the city government's press conference, without any prior knowledge. The disinfection team has only 86 people in total, with heavy daily workloads. If this new duty is added, they will also have to face public criticism from the front lines.
KMT councilor Yu Shu-hui stated that the EPB's report was superficial and did not mention methods to solve the increase in rats, such as whether the recent increase in urban renewal projects in Taipei could cause rats inside buildings to flee. The city government also could not provide relevant data.
Yu Shu-hui said that if citizens feel the rat problem is serious, then it is serious, and Taipei City should solve the problem. In addition, the EPB report only contained routine work and did not mention why the number of rats increased this year. "Could it be that their eyes are clouded by karma or they think they are all abandoned domestic rats?" The city government should make up for its shortcomings.
Regarding "Rat Detectives," Hsu Shih-hsun stated that the EPB's disinfection team currently has 86 people, all of whom have professional pest control licenses. Dealing with mosquitoes and rats is their original job, and adjustments will be made according to actual conditions. The preliminary plan is for one "Rat Detective" to be paired with one to two assistants, whose job is to help households find rat holes or traces of rats. (Edited by Hsiao Po-wen) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.