Pests at the Santa Cabrini Hospital in Montreal

Rats were discovered during renovations in the kitchen and cafeteria of the Santa Cabrini Hospital in Montreal's east side, the Journal de Montréal (JDM) revealed, and the local health department confirmed to CityNews that excavations were to blame.

According to JDM, rodents were spotted at least 11 times in 2023 by staff and exterminators. During this period, exterminators intervened in the hospital more than 40 times to deal with insects.

“Rats are common in big cities like Montreal, and when these pests are disturbed, they try to migrate to other areas,” said Luc Fortin, representative of CIUSSS-de-l'Est-de-l'île-de-Montréal. When speaking with CityNews by phone.

The Journal de Montréal also found that burst drains are another cause of pests in unwanted areas of the hospital.

An exterminator interviewed by the newspaper criticized the carelessness of some preventative measures, such as leaving doors open, food available to rodents and poor housekeeping.

JDM noted that in addition to rats, the exterminator found ants, mice and their feces under the kitchen sink.

In a statement to CityNews, CIUSSS-de-l'Est-de-l'île-de-Montréal wrote:

“All health facilities use the services of exterminators and contract annually for weekly preventive work. trips. Four incidents of all these preventive visits reported the presence of rodents or other pests. Everything was solved immediately.”