Queensland MP hospitalised over office birds

Veteran Queensland Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller is recovering from pneumonia as Workplace Health and Safety investigates whether the illness was caused by pigeons living in the roof of her electorate office.

Ms Miller says she was hospitalised on Tuesday after coming down with flu-like symptoms which were later diagnosed as pneumonia.

‘I’m on medication at the moment,’ she said from her hospital bed on Friday.

Ms Miller pointed to the pigeons that had taken residence in her Goodna electorate office for more than two years as a potential cause for her illness.

‘They’ve been in the roof cavity for about two-and-a-half years and other people in the shopping centre have also been sick,’ she said.

‘They’re the rats of the air.’ 

 Two of her electorate staffers had become sick with similar symptoms last year, she added.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland confirmed it is testing a potential link between her illness and a flock of pigeons living in her Goodna electorate office, which remains closed until further notice.

‘Workplace Health and Safety Queensland was notified (on Thursday) that Ms Miller had been hospitalised with pneumonia,’ a spokesman said.

‘Our staff, including hygiene specialists, visited her workplace (on Thursday) to make initial enquiries into whether her illness was connected with pigeons in the building.

Ms Miller says she was hospitalised on Tuesday after coming down with flu-like symptoms which were later diagnosed as pneumonia

‘However, at this stage there is no evidence that the two issues are connected.

‘Further tests will take place on Monday as samples must be taken to a lab within 24 hours.’

In a post to her Facebook page on Wednesday, Ms Miller said her office will remain closed until it is given clearance.

‘Workers’ safety is paramount,’ she wrote.

Ms Miller pointed to the pigeons that had taken residence in her Goodna electorate office for more than two years as a potential cause for her illness (stock image)