Rodent Infestation Clears Andorra-Spain Runer Border Post After Fumigation

Police and customs officers at the Runer border post on the Andorra-Spain frontier have returned to indoor duties in their cabins after a specialized pest control firm completed rodent eradication, sealing, and disinfection work on Monday.

The firm treated infestations in police cabins, adjacent customs offices, and Statistics Department facilities. Rodents identified included roof rats, sewer rats, field rats, and so-called "entry/exit" rats that entered via air conditioning ducts. Measures encompassed cleaning ventilation systems, replacing false ceiling panels, and sealing entry points with high-efficacy chemicals. Customs personnel reported no sightings but sought preventive checks to ensure safety.

Police commanders first detected the rodents last Friday, prompting the response despite a similar issue months earlier that the firm had previously certified as resolved. Officials link the recurrence to the site's riverside location, which affects various frontier buildings. For three to four weeks, officers managed 12-hour shifts outdoors using two provided iPads to minimize hantavirus exposure risks.

Agents expressed frustration over persistent maintenance shortcomings and tensions with superiors, who discouraged media complaints amid demands for nonstop operations. Previous problems at Runer include last winter's heating failure from a two-year-old heat pump breakdown in extreme cold, leading to non-compliant electric radiators; a 2024 clogged detainee toilet causing widespread odors; a month-long water cutoff in October 2021 due to budget constraints, with officers using customs facilities; and a 2023 roof refurbishment involving demolition, waterproofing, skylight repairs, and drain clearing, though sanitation issues lingered. These disruptions have at times prevented traveler or detainee searches. Comparable delays at the Baladrà post have allowed minor issues to escalate.

Planned improvements feature air conditioning upgrades and new false ceilings. Hantavirus, spread primarily through inhaling dust from rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, carries a 1-3 week incubation period, extending to 45 days. Early flu-like symptoms—fever, muscle pain, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea—can advance to pulmonary syndrome or renal fever. Prevention focuses on cleanliness, decluttering, ventilation, and caution with potentially contaminated air conditioners or fans in enclosed areas.