Melioidosis Health alert

[GordMay]

An urgent warning has been issued, after a deadly bacteria, called meliodosis, has killed two people in Australia, with more feared to be infected.

At least 28 others have also been infected by the bacteria, since October 2023.

The disease can cause high fever, a cough, headaches and chest pains; but if left untreated, can lead to severe pneumonia and blood poisoning, with around 10% of infections leading to death.
The bacteria is found in contaminated tropical soil and water, which can infect both humans and animals.

Melioidosis Health alert ➥ https://health.nt.gov.au/public-heal...es/melioidosis

About Melioidosis ➥ https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/health-c...al/melioidosis

[Baronkrak]

“Contaminated” what do you mean?

[Iron E]

Originally Posted by Baronkrak

“Contaminated” what do you mean?

Wet, swampy, stagnant, water that promotes the growth of such bacteria

[JPA Cate]

At the moment, it is a public health alert aimed at the Northern Territory and far north Queensland. It is due to the flooding we've had in Australia during this wet season. The flooding moves the bacteria to new areas, where people may be exposed to it. Paying attention to washing one's hands, etc. will help people not spread it, but it's one of those things that could turn into a major epidemic if people are careless. Obviously, it's important for the doctors and nurses in the area to be tuned in to its possibility in patients, who are more likely to survive if given proper treatment.

Thanks for the heads, up, Gord May.

Ann

[Miyalk]

Luckily it typically is only really serious for patients with comorbidities, a normal, healthy person is not likely to be severely impacted by an infection.
I have lived in the NT for 30 years and every wet season there is a bit of a spiel by public health authorities warning about it.
Interestingly it used to be called "Nightcliff Gardner's Disease", Nightcliff is a suburb of Darwin, it had a fairly high percentage of elderly residents and they more likely had some other serious health issues, so more acute cases.

(Honestly, it couldnt turn into a major epidemic.)

[HankOnthewater]

Indeed with all the flooding, this risk of Melioidosis has increased since cyclone Jasper in December. Similar warnings as the links of Gordmay has been circulated within the hospitals (ie ED emergency departments), to be more aware of such infections, as they are fairly uncommon. Still the rates of infections are still lowish (sorry, not able to put a percentage on that), and mainly those who have an underlying health condition are infected. The link says that 20% of the infected are healthy people. I think that this percentage is far lower than that but have no proof.

I am sitting at home........ on the general internet (meaning not health department intranet), found that there has been 17 cases in NT (northern territory), it did not mention deaths. https://health.nt.gov.au/__data/asse...te-jan2024.pdf
Population of NT is 250,000 so the reported infection rate for one month is 0.00007%. It is likely that the actual rate is far higher as many infections are not reported.

Additional fact, saltwater is not the normal habitat for the bacteria causing this Melioidosis, but it can survive in salt water.
if you really want to get details, here is a link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2803515/

Edit: between coffee and breakfast, I see the above post, i agree with Miyalk, it cannot become an epidemic.

[JPA Cate]

You seem quite sure, and I hope you're right, because the flood waters spread out so much. However, it was only my imagination that a major epidemic could result, and I'm glad to be reassured, though safe from it here in Tassie, as not affected by the rivers' paths.

[GordMay]

Worldwide, approximately 165,000 people are infected by melioidosis, per year, resulting in about 89,000 deaths [54% mortality], based on a mathematical model, published in 2016.
In well-resourced settings, where the disease can be detected and treated early, the risk of death is 10%. In resource-poor settings, the risk of death from the disease is more than 40%.
Estimates suggest that melioidosis is severely underreported in the 45 countries in which it is known to be endemic, and that melioidosis is likely endemic in a further 34 countries, which have never reported the disease.

“Predicted global distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei and burden of melioidosis” ~ by Direk Limmathurotsaku et al
➥ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4746747/

“Melioidosis” ~ by Raymond Chieng et al
➥ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...JM2022.004.pdf

[Wotname]

Aren't the numbers staggering, 2 deaths in Australia and 89,000 deaths among 8,000,000,000 world wide. Not exactly worrying and this affects the sailing community how?

Let's find something significant and boating related to obsess over.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Aren't the numbers staggering, 2 deaths in Australia and 89,000 deaths among 8,000,000,000 world wide. Not exactly worrying and this affects the sailing community how?

Let's find something significant and boating related to obsess over.

I'm waiting for the announcement of Pfizers new miracle vaccine/cure for it..

[Baronkrak]

Originally Posted by Iron E

Wet, swampy, stagnant, water that promotes the growth of such bacteria

Ever been to Nightcliff?

Originally Posted by Miyalk

Interestingly it used to be called "Nightcliff Gardner's Disease", Nightcliff is a suburb of Darwin, it had a fairly high percentage of elderly residents and they more likely had some other serious health issues, so more acute cases.

[REDACTED]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-...isease/6846404

[Miyalk]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Aren't the numbers staggering, 2 deaths in Australia and 89,000 deaths among 8,000,000,000 world wide. Not exactly worrying and this affects the sailing community how?

Let's find something significant and boating related to obsess over.

Yep, its not even worth obsessing over for land lubbers in the NT and Qld, let alone seafarers!

I guess as a general warning, if sailing to Northern Australia, and you have complex, serious medical conditions already, dont row ashore and start wallowing in the mud like a hippo. /PSA

[JPA Cate]

Well, Baronkrak, I think melioidosis is a public health i.e. medical issue, and so I'll repeat your link to the abc here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-...isease/6846404

It is something to be aware of. How much weight to put on it, is something else, entirely.
It is certainly an issue for folks in the top end, and the bacteria shall have been spread due to the flooding.

Ann

[Baronkrak]

Originally Posted by Miyalk

Nightcliff is a suburb of Darwin, it had a fairly high percentage of elderly residents and they more likely had some other serious health issues, so more acute cases.

This is rubbish, why bagging elderly?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8632198/

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Baronkrak

This is rubbish, why bagging elderly?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8632198/

They're more likely to be gardening.. the rest are to busy trying to be rich and happy..