Berlin's 2.2 Million Rat Infestation: A Growing Health Threat
Berlin is grappling with a severe rat infestation, with an estimated 2.2 million rats across the city. Despite efforts, controlling the population has proven challenging. The city is now exploring a mix of prevention, hygiene, and targeted control measures to tackle the issue long-term.
Rats are thriving in central areas like Mitte, Neukölln, and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, posing serious health risks due to the bacteria and parasites they carry. Human behavior, such as leaving food scraps and overflowing trash bins, is the primary driver of the rat population surge. To address this, Berlin needs coordinated action among its districts, the Senate, and citizens. New York's approach, combining public awareness campaigns, stricter waste regulations, and targeted poison baits in sewers, could serve as a model.
Paris attempted to tackle its rat problem ahead of the 2024 Olympics with numerous traps, but with limited success. Unlike Paris, Berlin currently has no citywide rat population monitoring. A Green Party inquiry in July 2025 confirmed this, with no reported human cases of rat-borne diseases as of September 2025. However, eleven of Berlin's twelve districts are now grappling with a severe rat problem. A planned roundtable on rat control in 2023 was postponed, leaving the city without a coordinated strategy.
Berlin's rat infestation is a pressing issue that requires a comprehensive, coordinated approach. By learning from other cities like New York and addressing the problem head-on, Berlin can protect its citizens from the health risks posed by rats and work towards a long-term solution.
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