As the wet season begins, Top End residents and visitors are once again reminded to protect themselves from the potentially deadly soil-borne disease melioidosis.
Dr Sarah McGuinness from the NT Centre for Disease Control warns that contact with mud, ground water and aerosolised soil during the wet season increases the chance of exposure to the bacteria that causes melioidosis.
“During the dry season, melioidosis bacteria live deep within the soil, but after heavy rains they can be found in surface water and mud and may even become airborne,” said Dr McGuinness.
“In past years, an increase in cases usually follows heavy rains as well as after cyclones, and floods.”
The bacteria enter the body via cuts and open wounds, and can also be inhaled into the lungs via dust or droplets. The time from infection to acute disease ranges from 1 to 21 days. Symptoms can vary greatly, but most commonly include fever, cough and breathing difficulties. In some cases, features like weight loss, sores that won’t heal and difficulty passing urine (particularly in men) are seen. Melioidosis infection can lead to severe pneumonia and blood poisoning and can be fatal, even with best practice medical care.
Those at highest risk of contracting melioidosis have specific risk factors which affect their immunity. The most important risk factor is diabetes, but others at risk include people who consume large amounts of alcohol, including those that binge drink, people with chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease and cancer and people taking immunosuppressive medications (such as steroids). While most people diagnosed with melioidosis have one or more risk factors, healthy people can become infected if they are working in mud, soil or pooled water without good hand and foot protection.
All people in the Top End are advised to take some simple precautions to minimize the risk of contracting this disease. Melioidosis can be prevented by wearing covered, waterproof shoes or boots when walking in wet or muddy areas and also by wearing gloves when handling soil or mud-soaked items. People using high pressure hoses around soil should cover their mouths and noses as the bacteria can be inhaled. It is also recommended that people with risk factors, such as diabetes, stay indoors during heavy wind and rain.
Anyone concerned about melioidosis should contact their local GP or hospital. A fact sheet with more information on melioidosis is available at: http://health.nt.gov.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.aspx?file=pdf/43/46.pdf&siteID=1&str_title=Melioidosis.pdf
Media contact: Kirsty Reid 8999 2818 or 0401 116 203