General News
4 November, 2025
Mouse plague’s hidden mental toll revealed
Beyond the ruined crops and pervasive stench, the 2021 mouse plague inflicted enduring trauma on rural Australians, new research reveals.
This has led to calls for future plagues to be officially recognised and managed as natural disasters.
Two companion reports released this year by CSIRO social scientists lay bare the hidden human costs.
Together, they reveal a level of psychological distress comparable to bushfires and floods, felt across farming districts.
The first report, led by Dr Lauren Carter, drew on 23 focus groups and community conversations in affected towns.
It found that the plague’s reach went far beyond the paddock gate, invading homes, schools, hospitals and shops.
Dr Carter said the feedback from the 2021 outbreak highlighted the significant impacts.
“The 2021 outbreak affected the livelihoods and lives of people beyond agriculture, including those working in healthcare, those running small businesses, local organisations and school communities,” she said.
“Our research found that people living through catastrophic outbreaks experience a raft of impacts, and some of these haven’t been previously described in detail.”
Dr Carter said the stories residents shared described fatigue from long hours of constant cleaning to maintain sanitary homes and workplaces.
“For residents who experienced mobility challenges, protection from mouse inundation was incredibly difficult,” she said.
“The stench associated with outbreak is incredibly intense and constant for months on end.
“Over time, this can impact on your outlook, your daily mood, your business, and your social connections.”
A second, quantitative study, led by Dr Aditi Mankad, surveyed more than 1600 people two years after the outbreak.
It found that 23 per cent still exhibited symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress, while one in three reported ongoing anxiety or depression.
Dr Mankad said the evidence was striking.
“People’s sense of how bad things were wasn’t just about the number of mice; it was about the personal toll,” she said.
“The most influential factors were the time, effort, and financial costs of trying to manage the infestation, the emotional strain… and the persistent feelings of disgust, triggered by the overwhelming smell of mice.”
Dr Mankad said the psychological effect is still evident two years on.
“The strongest predictors of ongoing stress were how low people felt during the plague, and their fear that another one could be just as bad,” she said.
“This highlights the need to consider not only the physical and economic consequences of such events, but also the longer-term mental health impacts on affected communities.
Both studies urge governments to recognise mouse plagues as social-ecological disasters rather than simple pest events.
That change would unlock faster support and integrate mental-health services with agricultural response.
Researchers also recommend early-warning systems, improved communication between agencies, and practical assistance for elderly and disabled residents who are unable to physically manage baiting or cleanup efforts.
This story has been compiled with support of the Australian Local News Resilience Project, an Australian Research Council project partnership between Deakin University and Griffith Universities and the ABC.
