Aragua, Venezuela faces rodent outbreak linked to garbage buildup

Residents of sector 8 in Caña de Azúcar, part of the Mario Briceño Iragorry municipality in Aragua state, have reported a rapid increase of rodents after large amounts of solid waste accumulated on streets and public squares. Complaints to local authorities describe irregular and insufficient urban‑cleaning service, with few collection trucks forcing citizens to leave bags of trash on sidewalks for days. The resulting conditions have fostered a daytime rodent plague, raising fears of diseases such as leptospirosis, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.

Community members have urged municipal officials to increase collection frequency, launch cleaning campaigns, and address the sanitation failures that threaten public health in the neighbourhood.