New report shows sharp increase in California’s rat population

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Health experts are calling on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a public health emergency over what they say is a sharp rise in the state’s rodent population.

Carl Demaio, the chairman of Reform California commissioned a study that surveyed nearly two dozen private pest control companies that operate throughout California. All of them reported that Rat Service Requests were up by at least 50 percent in the last 12 months.

Demaio said the situation could turn into a serious public health crisis with diseases like Typhus spread by rodents that carry fleas.

The issue is believed to be directly related to a spike in the homeless population and the elimination of effective rodent control methods.