Attack of the Mice

A government inquiry has been launched after a pack of mice mauled a bed-ridden 89-year-old man at an Australian nursing home.

The mice shredded parts of the man's ears, bit his head and wounded his throat, at the 80-bed home in Dalby, 200km (120 miles) west of Brisbane.

The victim was found covered in blood by nursing staff on Saturday.

Minister for ageing Justine Elliot has now ordered a probe into what the government-run nursing home in Queensland state was doing to protect residents.

She said the attack was "extremely disturbing and traumatic for residents and their families".

Opposition politician Ray Hopper was alerted to the mauling by the man's family earlier this week.

"An elderly, bed-ridden gentleman had the tops of his ears severely chewed, his head badly bitten and a very bad wound in the throat," Hopper said.

"His hands were covered in blood when they found him. He'd obviously been so distressed trying to get the mice away.

"It is the most disgusting, horrific thing. There wasn't a wall of mice suddenly hitting the place - this has been building up for three weeks. They had plenty of time to act."

Pam Lane, a Queensland state government health officer, confirmed two residents had been treated for mouse bites at the home and called the attacks "unfortunate" .

"We are doing everything we can to rid the mice from the facility," she said in a statement.

The Queensland health department said the hospital had added extra staff and instituted an "extensive baiting and trapping program".

They blamed the incident on the mouse plague spreading across the region.

metro.co.uk