Health officials in China have warned the populace not to eat the migrating mice that are plaguing the countryside around the flooding Yangtze River. More than 2 billion mice are devouring crops and invading lakeside communities.

Health officials have warned that the mice could carry disease and viruses, and have instructed the people not to eat them. Special warnings have been issued to the area where SARS first broke out, as the mice are a popular food source in that area.