Australia’s north-eastern coast is battling a rat plague that has been blighting residents’ lives for several months.
Towns across the state of Queensland have been fending off rodents after a rainy period led to optimum breeding conditions. As well as the havoc they are causing, there is also the additional problem of how to get rid of the dead rats with bodies piling up.
“They get on the move in mass numbers,” a resident of Queensland town Karumba told the Guardian. “A week ago the river was just alive with rats floating around.
“Everybody’s working furiously with baits and traps to get them under control.”
What is the rat plague in Australia?
Thousands of rats, dead and alive, have reportedly been washing up on beaches.
The amount has surged in several months due to prime breeding conditions and reached its highest level since the 2011 Australian peak.
According to the BBC, the rats have been faced with a shortage of food and needed to venture to the coast — but many have not made it.
This has led to shocking images of the rodents piling up on beaches.
Where is it?
The plague is affecting towns in Queensland, Australia’s northern-easternmost state.
"Mate, there's rats everywhere," Derek Lord, of Queensland town Normanton, told AFP.
"We have hire vehicles and they literally destroyed a car overnight, taking all of the wiring out of the engine bay.”
He added: “Last night, [my] ducks were going mad and I went downstairs to see what was going on thinking maybe there's a cat in there or something. And there's bloody lots of rats running through the cages, through the pens chasing ducks.”
Jemma Probert told AFP: "It's pretty bad here. The last week we've had them all over the beaches, some alive, some dead.
"It's not very nice down there, it's a bit smelly. The council has been cleaning up the beaches every morning, just to try and keep that at bay."
It is feared that more wet weather to come could worsen the issue.
How is it transmissible?
Reports have not suggested that the rat plague could impact humans by way of disease — in a similar way to that of the Black Death, meaning Australian authorities are being cautious.
The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. It swept through Europe in the 14th century, causing widespread illness and death. The pandemic is believed to have started in Central Asia and then spread to Europe, possibly through trade routes or the movement of armies.
“Mice, rats and other rodents may carry infections that can spread to humans,” New South Wales' present-day guidance states.
“These infections can spread through direct contact with infected mice or through contact with soil, food or water contaminated by infected mice.
“These infections are rare, but people should take steps to reduce their risk.”
The guidance adds humans should fill any holes in their homes and promptly throw away any leftovers to reduce the risk of attracting rodents.
