Australians are being urged to take additional precautions after a spike in instances of a uncommon bacterial illness that has killed a minimum of 28 folks in Queensland and has now contaminated home cats, elevating issues for each human and animal well being.
Melioidosis, a bacterial an infection that thrives in moist soil and stagnant water, has contaminated 211 folks throughout Queensland to date this 12 months, far increased than earlier annual totals. Most instances and deaths have been recorded within the Cairns Hinterland and Townsville areas, which have been hit by heavy rains and flooding earlier this 12 months.
Whereas melioidosis primarily spreads via contact with contaminated soil, water, or aerosols, consultants have warned that home animals, together with cats and canines, also can develop the an infection.
Well being consultants say excessive climate in latest weeks, together with flooding from Cyclone Alfred earlier this 12 months, has probably disturbed the micro organism, growing human publicity.
“The micro organism thrive in moist situations, so we frequently see extra instances in animals after heavy rains and flooding,” College of Sydney veterinary scientist Krysten Lee advised 7News.
Two-year-old tabby kitten Milo turned one of many first recognized pet instances this 12 months. His proprietor, Tiara Richardson-Steele, launched an on-line fundraiser for therapy, describing the illness as “uncommon and life-threatening” and saying Milo confronted a protracted and expensive highway to restoration.
The illness will be deadly if left untreated. In pets, signs might embody persistent pores and skin infections, fever, respiration issues, limb weak point, and sudden behavioural modifications. In people, it may possibly trigger pneumonia, abscesses in organs, and harmful sepsis if not quickly recognized and handled with focused antibiotics.
It could additionally infect the pores and skin and inside organs. Nevertheless, it’s notoriously tough to diagnose, because it mimics different infections and is resistant to straightforward antibiotics.
With out fast identification and particular therapy, melioidosis can result in sepsis and loss of life. Even with hospital care, fatality charges will be as excessive as 10–20 per cent.
Queensland Well being has warned residents to keep away from contact with muddy floodwaters and to put on protecting gloves and boots throughout clean-ups. Individuals with underlying well being situations, comparable to diabetes, kidney illness, or those that are immunocompromised, are significantly weak.
Instances of melioidosis are normally concentrated in northern Australia. North Queensland usually data round 20–50 instances a 12 months, however floods can set off main spikes. As many as 119 instances and 16 deaths have been reported within the area in simply the primary three months of 2025.
Whereas most instances stay within the north, consultants warning that altering climate patterns and the migration of extra retirees to Queensland might push the illness southward over time. Prof Jeffrey Warner, a microbiology researcher from the Australian Institute of Tropical Well being and Medication at James Cook dinner College, advised the Guardian final month that its “rising well being burden is on the intersection of fixing local weather, surroundings and land use”.
