Rat infestation worries residents in Caxias do Sul The presence of rats in urban areas worries residents and mobilizes the Health Surveillance of Caxias do Sul, in Serra Gaúcha. The situation has been recorded, mainly, in the Rio Branco, Petrópolis and Panazzolo neighborhoods. In March this year, a rodent infestation was recorded in Bento Gonçalves. City hall teams monitor reports and investigate possible cases of leptospirosis. Until May of this year, the Municipal Health Department confirmed one case of the disease and ruled out seven other suspicions. In 2025, there were seven confirmations and 19 discards. 📲 Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp Rodents often appear in areas close to manholes and garbage containers. The Caxias do Sul Development Company (Codeca) reported that it carries out periodic cleaning around the sites and maintains a daily schedule for washing equipment. In homes, it is more common for mice and rats to appear on roofs. On the streets, the most common presence is rats, which are larger rodents. According to the director of Health Surveillance in the municipality, Magda Telles, animals look for environments that offer conditions for survival. "We have been observing a significant increase in the presence of rats throughout the urban region, not just in Caxias. It is a public health problem in several cities, mainly because it is an animal that adapts to various environments. Using a rodenticide will only act at that moment. To be successful, it needs to be combined with the elimination of shelter, access, food and water", he explains. The expert states that the logistics of urban areas and the irregular disposal of waste on the streets are the main challenges. "What we ask is to always try to segregate the waste, try to dispose of it in the bin on the day the collection takes place, so that there is no exposed area and this mouse does not have access", he advises. Rat infestation in Caxias do Sul Reproduction/RBS TV VIDEOS: Everything about RS