Rodent Infestations Cleared at Andorra-Spain Runer Border Post, Officers Resume Indoor Duties

Police and customs officers at the Runer border post on the Andorra-Spain frontier have resumed indoor duties in their cabins following the completion of rodent eradication, sealing, and disinfection work carried out on Monday by a specialized pest control firm.

The firm addressed infestations in police cabins, adjacent customs offices, and Statistics Department facilities, targeting species such as roof rats, sewer rats, field rats, and "entry/exit" rats that accessed the buildings through air conditioning ducts. Additional measures include cleaning ventilation ducts, replacing false ceiling panels, and applying high-efficacy chemicals to seal entry points. Customs staff reported no sightings but requested preventive inspections. Police leadership notified officers they could return to normal operations after three to four weeks working outdoors with two provided iPads, aimed at reducing hantavirus exposure risks during 12-hour shifts.

The issue, detected last Friday by border unit commanders, marked a recurrence months after a prior episode that the firm had certified resolved. Officials attribute repeated problems to the site's riverside location, which impacts multiple frontier facilities. Agents have voiced frustration over ongoing maintenance neglect, including tensions with superiors who advised against media complaints despite demands for round-the-clock operations.

This fits a pattern of deficiencies at Runer. Last winter's heating failed due to a heat pump breakdown two years earlier in extreme cold, prompting use of non-compliant electric radiators. In 2024, a clogged detainee toilet caused facility-wide odors. October 2021 brought a month-long water cutoff from budget limits, forcing officers to use customs facilities. A 2023 roof overhaul addressed leaks through demolition, waterproofing, skylight repairs, and drain clearing, though sanitation issues persisted. At times, these have halted traveler or detainee searches. Similar delays at the Baladrà post have allowed minor faults to worsen.

Future upgrades include air conditioning improvements and new false ceilings. Hantavirus, transmitted mainly by inhaling dust from rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, has a 1-3 week incubation period (up to 45 days). Initial symptoms mimic flu—fever, muscle aches, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea—potentially progressing to pulmonary syndrome or renal fever. Prevention emphasizes cleanliness, decluttering, ventilation, and care with potentially contaminated AC units or fans in enclosed spaces.