Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 04 Nov 2024
US Experts Issue Warning After Five Deaths Caused By A Silent Garden Killer Bacteria
Experts say wet weather like hurricanes and rain are increasingly becoming common in the US, increasing the risk of the bacteria rising to the top of soil in gardens and backyards
Experts in the US are sounding the alarm over the danger of a lethal bacterium found in the gardens that have killed at least five people in Australia this year. Known as Burkholderia pseudomallei – the bacteria present in soil and water in tropical regions, leads to Melioidosis - a lung infection that results in pneumonia or sepsis, and has a mortality rate of up to 50 per cent in a few cases.
According to doctors, wet weather like hurricanes and rain – increasingly becoming common in the US heightens the risk of the bacteria rising to the top of soil in gardens and backyards.
While mostly found in tropical climates like Southeast Asia and Australia, the infection can spread to many coastal areas of the US, like Mississippi, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
How does melioidosis affect?
According to experts, you can get melioidosis from direct contact with contaminated soil or water and its symptoms vary depending on how you got infected and whether you have underlying conditions. Both humans and animals can get melioidosis, but people cannot get it from animals.
Melioidosis is also sometimes called Whitmore’s disease.
Last year, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned about B. pseudomallei, which is now endemic to the coastal areas of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida.
Signs and symptoms of melioidosis
The signs and symptoms of melioidosis depend on where the infection is located in your body, a few of which include:
- Cough
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Sores, ulcers, or abscesses
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Extreme fatigue and tiredness
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
- Confusion, disorientation, or other mental changes
- Coughing up blood
- Seizures
Ways to prevent melioidosis?
To reduce your risk of melioidosis, especially in areas where B. pseudomallei is common, take the following precautions:
- For those who have diabetes, make sure to avoid complete contact with soil
- Always wear waterproof boots when walking in wet soil
- Wear gloves while gardening
- Use waterproof coverings on wounds or sores
- Take a shower or wash thoroughly after being in soil or muddy water
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth while mowing the lawn or weeds
- If you think you have been exposed to B. pseudomallei, your doctor may recommend taking antibiotics to prevent melioidosis.
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