Trainees hospitalised after return to GNR training centre plagued by bed bugs
Sixteen trainees at the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) training centre in Portalegre received hospital treatment for respiratory and digestive problems on 22 September 2025, following the resumption of in-person classes after a bed bug infestation. The Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Alentejo confirmed that some trainees had already been discharged by the afternoon.
The GNR had suspended in-person training between 16 and 18 September after bed bugs were found in accommodation blocks and sanitary facilities. Classes continued online during the suspension. The centre resumed in-person teaching on 22 September 2025, despite warnings from the Association of Guard Professionals (APG/GNR) that the infestation persisted.
Dispute over disinfestation methods
The GNR stated that it had "scrupulously complied" with all safety deadlines and cleaning procedures set by the certified company responsible for the disinfestation. The force claimed that no toxic products were used, only "deep and complementary cleaning services" employing "water vapour alone".
The exact cause of the trainees' symptoms remains under investigation. Sixteen trainees sought hospital treatment, with most now discharged. Authorities are working to confirm whether the symptoms relate directly to the disinfestation process.
Union condemns decision to reopen
Eládio de Pinho Rodrigues, a leader of the APG/GNR, condemned the decision to resume in-person classes. "Our reaction, obviously, is to condemn, we have to condemn all the decisions that were taken and, effectively, it is not understood why they were taken, putting the health of these trainees at risk," he said.
The union argues that the situation already constituted a "public health issue" due to the bed bug infestation and that the hospitalisations suggest "clear negligence". Rodrigues said that extending the period trainees remained at home would have "avoided all these issues".
The APG/GNR has sent a formal notice to the GNR command, with copies to the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, calling for an urgent resolution. The union has received "dozens of complaints" from trainees and their families and has also reported sightings of cockroaches and rats in the installations.
Long-standing infrastructure concerns
The APG/GNR stated that the poor conditions at the centre have been a reality for decades. Trainees are housed in provisional containers that have been in use for approximately 30 years, with reports of 20 people per room without climate control. The union has called for the training centre's relocation.
The Socialist Party (PS) has also questioned the government on measures to guarantee adequate conditions of accommodation, hygiene, and sanitation at the centre.
The GNR did not respond to a request for comment from news agency Lusa by the time of reporting.
