Millions mice have been creating havoc in Australia. The state New South Wales is suffering its worst mouse plague decades. The mouse population started growing farms in spring last year because a bumper wheat harvest. The rodents have been causing farmers a major headache over a year. The plague has now caused problems a prison. The Wellington Correctional Centre, about 350km west Sydney, has been forced to evacuate. Up to 200 staff and 420 prisoners have been transferred to other jails the region because of health and safety reasons. It will take 10 days the prison to be cleaned and for repairs to electric cables and woodwork to be carried .
Mice have been causing damage to buildings the region. Their droppings have become a health hazard that has cost hundreds thousands of dollars to clean . In addition, they have chewed through electrical wiring, which has become a danger to property and human life. Prisons spokesperson Peter Severin spoke the cleaning and repair operations at Wellington. He said: "The health, safety and wellbeing staff and inmates is our number one priority, so it's important us to act now to carry the vital repair work....We need to take this step now to ensure the site is thoroughly cleaned and infrastructure is repaired." Staff will also look ways to protect plagues the future.
