The UK city in grip of rat ‘epidemic’ as 100 people hospitalised after attacks

The rat colonisation successful Glasgow has soared since the COVID pandemic (Image: Getty)

An infestation of rodents is wreaking havoc connected the streets of Glasgow, with 100 radical near successful request of infirmary attraction aft being attacked.

The Scottish metropolis has seen a surge successful the fig of rats spotted connected its streets successful the past 5 years, with reports to section authorities rising by 45% according to Freedom of Information data.

Chris Mitchell, GMB national convenor for garbage and cleaning successful Glasgow, told GB News that “an emergency” oregon “epidemic” should beryllium declared, suggesting that the rat population is lone continuing to grow.”

He suggested that the acceleration successful reports and incidents related to vermin successful the metropolis was linked to a alteration successful bin postulation frequency.

“The rats are having 1 large monolithic party…and the remainder of america are suffering for it,” Mr Mitchell said.

He added that the occupation risked turning the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which volition beryllium held successful Glasgow adjacent summer, into a literal “rat race” if thing is done to tackle the contented now.

Infrequent bin collections successful the Scottish metropolis could beryllium making the occupation worse (Image: Getty)

FOI information obtained by Glasgow Live showed that the city’s rat colonisation grew from 6,180 to 8,959 betwixt 2019 and 2023.

It besides showed that the NHS had dealt with 100 cases of rat attack-related injuries successful the aforesaid period.

Glasgow City Council has antecedently described rat infestations arsenic an “unfortunate information of life” successful effect to concerns.

“It’s believed the COVID lockdown prompted a important alteration successful behaviour, with rats moving into much residential areas wherever they person go much visible,” a spokesperson told Glasgow Live successful October.

“There are different biology factors that whitethorn lend to these figures specified arsenic milder winters that let rats to past for longer and older infrastructure that tin let easier entree for pests,” they added.

David Richardson thinks the contented is linked to bin postulation (Image: Newsquest/SWNS)

But locals including David Richardson deliberation the occupation is chiefly linked to reduced bin postulation services. The Glaswegian, who hasn’t had his bin taken distant since mid-December, said: “I person seen aggregate large rats, astir a ft agelong arsenic well.”

"There was a ample 1 that got stuck successful a spread successful the bin. I had to screen it successful lipid and shove it done portion wearing a rubber mitt conscionable to get it retired due to the fact that I didn’t privation to termination it,” helium told SWNS.

"That shouldn’t beryllium down to maine to woody with, it isn't my job. It could beryllium unsafe if it bites anyone."

Glasgow City Council blamed Christmas slope holidays for the delayed pick-up connected Mr Richardson’s road.

“The 4 nationalist holidays implicit Christmas and New Year bash person an interaction connected the transportation of discarded services astatine this clip of year,” a spokesperson said.

They added: "The attack we person taken this twelvemonth is to absorption connected clearing shared bin courts and bin stores for flatted properties arsenic rapidly arsenic imaginable to effort and minimise the wide interaction of the nonaccomplishment of work arsenic overmuch arsenic we can."