Giant rat colony revealed in UK, risk of disease outbreak
An estimated 250 million rats are thriving in the UK, many as big as cats, causing great concern for people's safety, health and livelihoods.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•29/08/2025
Many people in the UK discovered rats as big as cats crawling into their houses. Each rat was about 56cm long from nose to tail. When looking at photos of these rats, many people couldn't help but feel worried and scared. Photo: The Sun. A UK pest control expert has warned of a potential giant rat outbreak in the winter of 2025 due to hot weather, increased waste and deteriorating infrastructure. Photo: Tony Smith/SWNS.com.
According to Kieran Sampler, founder of the Yorkshire Rat Pack, the hot summer combined with the popular fast food culture and the old sewer system are creating the ideal conditions for rats to grow to super-large bodies. Photo: The Sun. “There’s more rubbish than 20 years ago, with food scraps from fast food restaurants and communal bins in high-rise buildings,” Mr Sampler explains. “We catch big rats every day, it’s getting out of hand…” Photo: Richard Smilicz/SWNS.com.
The areas worst affected by rat infestations are farms, warehouses and old houses with cast iron pipes. Photo: TERRY WALKER/WESSEX NEWS Agency. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has set up a cross-party pest control task force to respond. Mr Salvin has called on other councils to work with water companies to tackle the cat-sized rats. Picture: Nick Edwards for www.dailymail.co.uk.
It is estimated that the UK currently has around 250 million rats. They can carry Weil's disease - an infectious disease caused by Leptospira bacteria that can be transmitted to humans. Photo: Twitter/divajulieann. Readers are invited to watch the video : Discovering many new species in the Mekong River Region. Source: THĐT1.
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