Rat infestations have forced the temporary closure of a school in La Plata and the suspension of dining services at another facility in Buenos Aires.
These closures highlight critical sanitation and infrastructure failures within public educational spaces, posing immediate health risks to students and staff.
In the city of Buenos Aires, Escuela Primaria No. 12 [1] of the DE 15 [2] reported a rodent invasion. This facility, which is shared with a Nucleated Kindergarten, is located on the border between the Saavedra and Villa Urquiza neighborhoods. Authorities suspended the use of the school's dining hall following reports of the infestation on May 28, 2024 [1].
Similar conditions were reported in the city of La Plata, located in the province of Buenos Aires. A school in that city was forced to close temporarily after a rat invasion was discovered. The closure occurred on a Thursday, though the specific date was not provided in the report.
Officials said concerns for the health and safety of students were the primary reason for these interventions. Rodents were found in classrooms and other common areas, creating an environment unfit for educational activities.
While some reports have suggested similar incidents occurred in the Mataderos neighborhood, verified documentation currently only supports the infestations in La Plata and the Saavedra-Villa Urquiza area.
“Rat infestations have forced the temporary closure of a school in La Plata”
The recurrence of rodent infestations across multiple districts in the Buenos Aires region suggests a systemic failure in school maintenance and pest control. When basic sanitation is compromised to the point of closing classrooms and dining halls, it indicates that preventative measures are insufficient, potentially leaving students exposed to zoonotic diseases.
