According to a report in the Northern Times, flood clean-up at the Caboolture BMX Club in Centenary Lakes was cancelled due to a disease outbreak. The flood ravaged Centenary Lakes is 30 minutes from Brisbane.
2 people have contracted the infectious disease, melioidosis.
A Moreton Bay Regional Council spokesperson said they are contacting everyone who may have worked at the site since the recent floods
Melioidosis (also known as Whitmore disease and Nightcliff gardener's disease) is caused by the bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei. The disease though somewhat rare has been seen in areas of Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, particularly after heavy rains. In Thailand it is considered a disease of rice farmers.
The organism is saprophytically found in soil and water. People usually get infected by contact with contaminated soil or water through skin wounds, inhalation or rarely through ingestion of contaminated water.
Person to person transmission can occur through contact with blood and body fluids of an infected person.
Depending on how heavy the infection incubation can range from hours to weeks. Infection may show no symptoms but it can quickly progress to disseminated disease involving skin and a variety of organs.
Pneumonia from B. pseudomallei can be seen either in acute or chronic disease. Chronic pulmonary meloidosis may present itself years after exposure and can mimic tuberculosis.
Fatality rates of melioidosis can reach up to 75 percent even with appropriate antibiotic treatment. Fatalities are particularly greater in those with underlying conditions like diabetes mellitus or renal disease.
People at higher risk of contracting this disease are those with jobs or hobbies that increase their exposure to contaminated soil and water like military, construction, farmers, eco-tourists and other adventure travelers.
Prevention is based on avoiding exposure of cuts and other trauma with soil and water in endemic areas. This is especially important if the person has an underlying disease. The use of boots and gloves are recommended for people whose work involves contact with soil and water, like farmers.
Comments
My son has contracted Meliodosis from Cyclone Yasi. He was on Dunk island when the full force of the category 5 cyclone hit. He suddenly fell ill about 3 days following the event. Meliodosis was diagnoed 2 weeks after his initial symptoms. Tests were done because he was not responding to antibiotic treatment for pneumonia that was getting progressively worse, resembling tuberculosis on x-ray.. He has now been sent to a major hospital. He is very ill with a large lung abscess. I am afraid for him.
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