French authorities shut down popular tourist spots in Paris in attempt to curb spread of rodents
The park where the Eiffel Tower is located in central Paris is among those affected
SOME of Paris' most popular parks - including the one which is home to the world-famous Eiffel Tower - have been forced to close as authorities try to stamp down on a plague of rats terrorising the city.
The Champs de Mars, by the river Seine, will be temporarily shut along with other green spaces during the widespread programme of "deratisation" – French jargon for exterminating rats.
There are now some six million in central Paris, or roughly 2.5 for every person living in the capital.
This is a huge blow for the most popular tourist city in the world – one where the biggest visitor group is British.
The latest rat epidemic could not come at a worse time, as Paris deals with a number of threats to its upmarket image including terrorism and high-profile armed robberies.
A statement released by the city council reads: "In order to stop the recent increase in rats in public spaces in Paris, a targeted action plan is being deployed."
The authorities admit that "eradication is impossible", but that "numbers must be reduced" as quickly as possible.
Exits from sewers are being blocked, while bait is being laid to trap and destroy the vermin, who are associated with poor hygiene and disease.
Other control measures include introducing rat-proof rubbish bins, and cleaning up litter left on the street as quickly as possible.
People are also being encouraged not to feed rats or pigeons, and to report any sightings of the rodents to the authorities.
Rats are a historic problem in Paris, mainly because it is built around a major river, and is full of places where they can hide.
But people discarding fast food and other rubbish around tourist spots have turned the problem into a critical one.
Chilling film and photographs showed "giant rats" congregating in the beautiful Tulieries gardens, next door to the Louvre, in 2014.
Many are still there, with local gardener Pascal Bernard saying: "People come in with their picnics and snacks, and leave plenty of food for the rats to grow fat.
"They reproduce extremely quickly, and soon you see them everywhere. It is a problem that is affecting the whole city.
"Perhaps the worst part is when the rats get into homes and offices, and start scaring people. This is likely to happen in the winter, when the rats seek warmth."
The 2007 Pixar cartoon film "Ratatouille" – which involved animated rats cooking in a Paris restaurant – helped soften the creature’s image, but they are in fact a major hazard.
One of the most dangerous diseases in history was the bubonic plague, which was carried by rats, and wiped out millions in the Middle Ages.
Nowadays, rat bites and scratches can result in severe illness, while rat urine is responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can result in liver and kidney damage.
Rat nests can also weaken buildings, especially the very old ones found in cities such as Paris and London.
Rats are secretive by nature, and often hide away during the day, making efforts to control them particularly difficult.
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