Runer River Border Post Resumes Full Operations After Rodent Infestation Eradicated

Police and customs officers at the Runer River border post resumed full operations inside their cabins on Friday following final inspections by Anticimex Andorra, which confirmed the rodent infestation had been eradicated.

The pest control firm wrapped up its comprehensive intervention on Thursday afternoon, encompassing chemical cleaning and disinfection initiated on Monday, structural replacements including new sealed roofs, ceiling panels, and aluminum ventilation ducts, plus installation of protective meshes. Specialists conducted checks that day, verifying no ongoing risks, and established ongoing monitoring to avert recurrences. "We acted immediately and decisively with a complete intervention that resolves both the current issue and its potential causes," Anticimex Andorra manager Xavier Cardete said. He emphasized physical barriers ahead of chemicals, given the site's vulnerability near the river during breeding periods.

The recurrence surfaced last Friday with fresh droppings in the police cabin, traced to alternative ducts despite earlier treatments weeks prior. Officers shifted vehicle inspections roadside over hantavirus fears from contaminated dust or waste in confined spaces. Witnesses reported rodents reaching the roofs, heightening staff unease amid winter grievances over poor heating and other facility shortcomings.

Midweek, dislodged old droppings from duct work initially suggested a fresh outbreak, but inspections confirmed it as legacy residue from previously sealed entries. Officials link repeated issues to the river's draw for rodents. February measures had sealed some paths, yet gaps remained.

At nearby Escaldes-Engordany's Avinguda Fiter i Rossell, residents report ongoing rats near the primary care center, climbing wall, and other sites, undeterred by poisons and traps. They point to river proximity—deemed a government responsibility after local council referrals—as a driver, akin to the Runer case, and deem it a public health concern tied to hantavirus, spread via direct contact with or inhalation of dust from infected rodents' urine, droppings, or saliva.

In Catalonia, South American coypus—an invasive wetland species first spotted in 2010—have proliferated, with 1,322 trapped in 2025 and over 3,500 since 2023, especially in Alt and Baix Empordà areas. Authorities stress such situations remain manageable with prompt professional action, though sustained maintenance is key.