New York City officials are taking swift action to locate and assist a man who was filmed eating a dead rat on a Bronx sidewalk, fearing for his health, TMZ has learned.
A spokesperson for City Hall confirmed that officials are coordinating with the NYC Health Department to track down the unidentified man after a disturbing video surfaced on social media over the weekend.
The footage, captured by an eyewitness on Saturday, shows the man biting into the rodent while sitting on the pavement. The person filming audibly gasps in shock as the unsettling act unfolds.
Kathleen Corradi, NYC's Director of Rodent Mitigation, has issued a warning about the potential health risks associated with rats, emphasizing that they can carry harmful pathogens and ectoparasites—organisms known to cause diseases and skin infestations.
Corradi further advised the public to avoid direct contact with rats, their urine, and droppings, and to use protective equipment if handling dead rodents.
With these serious health risks in mind, city officials are working urgently to locate and provide necessary assistance to the man. Authorities hope to intervene before any potential illness arises.
