NYCHA tenant says rats bit 1-year-old son twice

<p>A tenant living in the New York City Housing Authority's Claremont Consolidation apartments says her 1-year-old son was bitten twice by rodents in their infested apartment.</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 17, 2018, 10:00 PM

Updated 2,011 days ago

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A tenant living in the New York City Housing Authority's Claremont Consolidation apartments says her 1-year-old son was bitten twice by rodents in their infested apartment.
Asia Clemente says she's spotted nearly cat-sized rodents and showed News 12 video of one hiding under her counter last Friday. She says her son Daniel was most recently bitten Sunday night and was in the hospital with a rash and fever on Monday. She says the rat must have gnawed through her walls to bite the boy on the stomach, where he uses a milk-pumping device since he was born premature. Daniel is now on a host of antibiotics.
Clemente says she's been dealing with the issue since January and that it's affecting the whole building.
"Our residents should not have to live in these conditions," a NYCHA spokesperson said in a statement. "Since this first came to our attention, we have taken aggressive steps to address the current infestation by eliminating rodent access to the building and the apartments, which will also keep future rodents away. We apologize to our residents and will continue to vigilantly monitor this situation."
NYCHA tells News 12 that it is working with the family on a transfer. After meeting with NYCHA, Clemente says she's not sure how long it will take and who will pay for moving costs.
NYCHA also says exterminators have treated basement areas in several buildings, closed the development's four compactor rooms and are eliminating entry points.
Clemente says she is considering legal action.
The state Health Department was at the development Tuesday, assessing the situation.


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