Mouse Plague Destroying Darling Downs Crops

A mouse plague is causing damage to crops and property worth tens of thousands of dollars in southern Queensland.

The plague began seven months ago and is showing no signs of slowing down, taking its toll on the Darling Downs community.

Farmers, business owners and residents are trying out different methods to control the mice and are hoping for more rain to help control numbers.

The plague has caused a spike in leptospirosis, a rodent-borne bacterial disease. Case numbers in Queensland have almost doubled this year, with 78 cases reported so far. 

The disease gives us high fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, chills and vomiting. 

The plague reaches to the south-west and up into central Queensland and is not expected to die down until July, according to the CSIRO. 

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