The UK is bracing for the hottest day of the year, with temperatures potentially breaking the July record of 37.5°C set in 2015. Experts warn that the extreme heat could spark a surge in rat infestations, alongside other hazards such as toxic air and increased shark activity.
The Commons environmental audit committee described adapting to a warming climate as 'a matter of life and death', drawing parallels to the Black Death that killed over 5 million people in the 14th century. Rodent numbers have reportedly risen sharply in recent weeks, as rats feed on food waste warmed by prolonged sunshine.
Rat expert Professor Steve Belmain noted that heat boosts rodent activity, allowing them to reproduce monthly and transmit over 60 diseases. Councils in cities like London, Edinburgh, and Devon are considering increasing bin collections to curb the growing rat population.
One resident in Salford, Greater Manchester, complained to the council that pink bins had not been collected for weeks, leading to rotting food and a rat problem. Meanwhile, NHS advice page visits for heat exhaustion and heatstroke have quadrupled since the start of the month, following MPs' warnings of 7,000 heat-related deaths annually.
The Met Office and Public Health England have issued a Level 3 heat health watch alert for large parts of England, urging people to stay out of the sun and keep homes cool.
