Health officials admit they are dealing with a rat problem at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, but say patients and staff aren’t at risk because most of the rodents are being found outside the building.

Visits by exterminators have doubled this summer and officials say the rodent problem is due in part to a rough winter.

“We have seen an increase in activity in the number of rats around the exterior of the property,” says Dianne Calvert-Simms, CEO of the Cape Breton District Health Authority. “About five weeks ago, there was one actually sighted inside our receiving entrance corridor.”

Health officials say another one was spotted in the basement, but insist patients and staff have nothing to worry about.

They say the rodents haven’t come close to any patient rooms or hospital facilities and that the issue is under control.

Exterminators typically visit the site once a month, but they have been making bi-weekly visits this summer.

“We have been slowly eliminating any food sources,” says Calvert-Simms. “We are replacing a container that we believe may have contributed to the issue. That should be here this week.”

Tom MacNeil, director of environmental services for the Cape Breton District Health Authority, says while it’s normal for many buildings to see an increase in pests in the summer, this is the worst he’s seen.

MacNeil blames it largely on the harsh winter weather, saying it forced more rodents to flock to indoor food sources. He says it also doesn’t help that the hospital borders a wooded area.

“Two reasons, I guess, we have seen the increase in rats. One is the hard winter, but second is food sources,” says MacNeil. “We have a container that’s about 30 years old that we’re going to replace this week. We’ve had some leakage in it and that’s a source of food.”

The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union says it has not received any complaints from employees about rodents in the workplace.

A memo has been sent to staff, asking them to report any rat sightings and to work to eliminate potential food sources.