In a disturbing incident that has captured widespread attention, a man was caught on video calmly eating a raw dead rat on a busy New York City sidewalk in broad daylight.
The bizarre event, which unfolded on March 15, 2025, has ignited public outrage and raised fears about the potential spread of diseases, including the plague.
Multiple news outlets have reported on the viral video, highlighting both the shocking nature of the act and the growing health concerns it has provoked.
According to Mediaite, the footage shows the unidentified man casually consuming the rodent amidst pedestrians on a bustling NYC street.
Witnesses described the scene as surreal, with one onlooker commenting, “This is how zombie movies start.”
The video, which quickly spread across social media platforms, has drawn comparisons to apocalyptic scenarios, but experts are more concerned about real-world implications.
Health officials have noted that rats are known carriers of various pathogens, including fleas that can transmit bubonic plague, a disease that has historically devastated populations.
A stunned NYC woman can’t believe her eyes as she watches a man casually munch on a dead rat, exclaiming in disbelief, “This is fucking unbelievable. Look at this sh*t.” 🇺🇸🐁 pic.twitter.com/HE7s4xuvRu
— Global Dissident (@GlobalDiss) March 15, 2025
The New York Post reported that city authorities are investigating the incident, though the man’s identity and motives remain unclear. Public health experts interviewed by the outlet emphasized the risks associated with handling or consuming wild rodents.
“Rats in urban environments like New York City are often exposed to sewage, garbage, and other contaminants,” said Dr. Emily Hart, a public health specialist. “Eating one raw is a recipe for disaster—plague, leptospirosis, and hantavirus are just a few of the possibilities.”
Adding to the alarm, CNN highlighted historical context, noting that while plague cases are rare in the United States today—typically fewer than 10 annually, according to the CDC—they are not unheard of.
Most modern cases are linked to contact with infected animals, particularly rodents, in rural areas of the Southwest. However, the urban setting of this incident has amplified concerns.
“The density of NYC means that if a disease like plague were introduced, it could spread rapidly if not contained,” said epidemiologist Dr. Mark Torres in the CNN report.
Posts found on X reflect a mix of horror and dark humor among the public, with many users speculating about the man’s mental state or joking about an impending apocalypse.
However, the sentiment also underscores genuine unease, with some calling for immediate action from city officials to address sanitation and public health risks posed by the city’s rat population, which experts estimate numbers in the millions.
The Daily Beast delved into the broader issue of NYC’s ongoing rat problem, pointing out that the city has struggled for years to control its rodent population.
Recent initiatives, such as appointing a “rat czar” in 2023, have aimed to curb infestations, but incidents like this highlight the persistent challenge.
The article also questioned whether the man’s actions could inspire copycat behavior, further complicating efforts to manage public health risks.
While no plague cases have been directly linked to this incident as of March 16, 2025, the event has sparked a renewed conversation about urban sanitation and disease prevention.
The New York City Health Department has issued a statement urging residents to avoid contact with wild animals and to report unusual behavior to authorities.
Meanwhile, the viral video continues to circulate, serving as both a grim spectacle and a cautionary tale about the intersection of human behavior and public health in one of the world’s busiest cities.
All you need to combat the rat infestation is 2 things:
1: Make hunting rats with air / pellet rifles 100% legal and encouraged.
2: Pay 50 cents per rat killed.
You’ll see the rat population plummet in a month.