Melioidosis

Melioidosis is a serious disease caused by bacteria that live in the soil.

After rain the bacteria comes to the surface.

It is found in mud and water on the ground.

When it’s windy, the bacteria can get blown around in the air.

Domestic, farm and zoo animals can also be infected.

It’s important to get medical treatment if you think you have melioidosis because it can be life threatening.

Prevalence in the Northern Territory (NT)

The bacteria causing melioidosis is found in warm and humid areas worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia and northern Australia.

It is more common in the Top End, but cases have also been reported as far south as Tennant Creek.

Seasonal risk

There is a higher chance of getting sick with melioidosis during the wet season from October to April.

NT Health will issue a health alert during this time or if there is a rise in cases.

For more information on current health alerts, go to the NT Health website.

How you can get melioidosis

You can get melioidosis by:

• having the bacteria enter your body through cuts or scratches on your skin
• breathing in the bacteria from soil carried by the wind
• breathing in contaminated water droplets during storms or from high-pressure hoses.

Getting melioidosis from drinking unchlorinated water is rare.

The disease does not typically spread from one person to another, or from animals to humans.

Understanding your risk

If you have existing health conditions or a weakened immune systems you are more at risk of melioidosis.

Conditions that increase your risk include:

• diabetes
• kidney disease
• lung disease or cancer
• high alcohol intake
• having had an organ transplant
• taking medicines that weaken your immune system.

Even if you're healthy, you can still get melioidosis, especially if you work outside in muddy or wet conditions.

Healthy children have a lower risk.

Safe work practices on job sites

People who work on job sites might be more likely to get melioidosis because the work environment can get wet, muddy or dusty.

Read more about how you can lower your risk in the workplace, go to the NT Worksafe website.

Symptoms

Symptoms of melioidosis will usually appear between 1 and 21 days after exposure.

Symptoms can be sudden, but can also start slowly.

The first sign is usually an infection in the chest, called pneumonia.

You might also experience breathing difficulties, a cough that brings up mucus and a fever.

Other symptoms can include:

• headache
• confusion
• difficulty passing urine for men
• joint pain or swelling
• skin sores that don’t heal.

It can affect different parts of your body, based on how you got infected with it.

Symptoms can last for 2 or more months.

Some people get chronic melioidosis, this means symptoms can be long lasting.

In rare cases, you may become ill several years after coming into contact with the bacteria. This happens when the bacteria stays inside your body, but only causes sickness if your body's defense system gets weaker.

Melioidosis is a dangerous illness, it can be life threatening. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to go to a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment

If you have melioidosis, you will receive treatment for the next 2 to 4 weeks in hospital.

Treatment is with antibiotics given through your veins.

When you go home you will still need to take tablet antibiotics for another 3 months.

Prevention

Melioidosis does not have a vaccine.

If you have had melioidosis before, you can get it again.

To protect yourself against melioidosis you should:

• wash all cuts, grazes and wounds with soap and water
• keep cuts covered with a clean dressing when going outside
• wear waterproof shoes or boots in wet and muddy conditions
• wear rubber gloves when handling soil
• wear a mask when using high pressure hoses
• take it easy with alcohol - even one big drinking session can increase your risk.

People with existing health conditions should take extra precautions by:

• staying in doors during storms, heavy wind or rain
• ensuring drinking and bathing water are safe and free of contamination
• disinfect bore water, or use a combination of rain water and bottled water for drinking and showering
• boil your water if you are unsure.

Information in multiple languages

You can download important information about melioidosis in the following languages:

• Arabic PDF (143.7 KB)
• Bahasa PDF (30.2 KB)
• Dari PDF (130.3 KB)
• Farsi PDF (172.8 KB)
• Kurdish PDF (92.0 KB)

Audio files in Aboriginal languages

You can download audio information about melioidosis in the following languages:

• Anindilyakwa WAV (3.7 MB)
• Eastside Kriol WAV (3.9 MB)
• Murrinh-Patha WAV (4.1 MB)
• Warlpiri WAV (4.1 MB)
• Yolngu Matha WAV (4.1 MB)

Transcript

Melioidosis is a disease caused by a germ that lives in the soil. The germ comes out when there’s heavy rain and can make you sick so don’t go out in the heavy rain and wind. Always wear shoes when you’re walking outside to protect yourself from getting cuts and scratches. If you become sick with shortness of breath, a productive cough or fever see your doctor or go to the health clinic

Information for health professionals

To find out more go to the NT Health website.

Contact

For more information call your nearest Public Health Unit’s Centre for Disease Control.