Rats Rescue Earthquake Victims and Detect Deadly Diseases in Tanzania

As of September 5th, 2025, a remarkable initiative in Tanzania is utilizing an unexpected ally in the fight against deadly diseases and natural disasters: rats. In the Uluguru Mountains of Morogoro, these specially trained African giant pouched rats are proving to be invaluable assets in search and rescue operations, landmine detection, and tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis.

The rats, trained by the non-profit organization APOPO, have an incredible sense of smell that allows them to detect explosives, TB bacteria, and even locate earthquake survivors buried in rubble. In a recent simulation, a rat quickly navigated through the debris of a collapsed building to find a trapped victim, triggering an alert to rescuers above.

But the rats' lifesaving capabilities extend far beyond disaster response. APOPO's TB detection program has been a game-changer in Tanzania, which struggles with one of the highest global TB burdens. The rats can scan 100 samples in just 20 minutes, identifying over 30,000 positive cases that had been missed by traditional diagnostic methods. This early detection helps prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

As the world continues to grapple with the resurgence of TB, these "hero rats" are providing a crucial and cost-effective solution, especially in areas lacking access to advanced medical technology. Their unique abilities are transforming public health and disaster response in Tanzania and beyond.