Italian school rodent infestation issues

Hygiene concerns regarding rodent infestations have led to school closures and public protests across several Italian regions.

In Casarano, an elementary school was temporarily closed in mid October after the discovery of a mouse and evidence of an infestation. Local authorities and the health agency of Lecce ordered the suspension of classes to allow for cleaning and the restoration of hygienic conditions, following an unsuccessful initial pest control attempt. Some parents criticized the municipality for delayed communication regarding the issue.

By early November, similar hygiene crises emerged in Sicily and Calabria. In Agrigento, parents at the Rita Levi Montalcini Institute began keeping children home due to the presence of rats and excrement in classrooms and corridors, subsequently demanding formal deratization and sanitization from local authorities. In Crotone, the Montessori school complex was ordered to close for several days following a rodent sighting and the suspension of canteen services, with health officials prescribing comprehensive disinfection of the premises.