The Silent Killer Lurking in Your Backyard
A Lethal Bacteria Found in American Gardens
Experts are warning about the danger of a lethal bacterium found in American gardens, which has caused multiple fatalities in Australia this year. Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacteria present in soil and water in tropical regions, can cause Melioidosis, a lung infection that may result in pneumonia or sepsis, with a mortality rate of up to 50% in some cases.
The Bacteria’s Spread
In 2024 alone, five people in Australia have died of the disease, which is contracted after contact with contaminated soil. Experts fear that natural disasters like hurricanes, storms, and other inclement weather could increase the risk of its spread in the United States.
How the Bacteria Spreads
"The most serious way that people can get it is when there’s severe weather events, such as monsoonal storms, and in particular, when there are tropical cyclones with wind and rain the bacteria are aerosolized and people can then breathe it in," said Bart Currie, a professor of medicine at the Menzies School of Health Research.
The Risks
While the bacteria is most commonly found in Asia and Australia, cases of melioidosis have been found in the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and even Mississippi. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified cases of the illness in patients from Texas, Minnesota, Kansas, and Georgia.
Symptoms and Treatment
If symptoms do occur, they include fever, headache, muscle pain, confusion, chest pain, trouble breathing, and seizure. The illness requires a round of IV antibiotics for two weeks and months of oral antibiotics afterwards.
Under-Reporting and Under-Diagnosis
"This is one of those diseases that is also called the great mimicker because it can look like a lot of different things," said Julia Petras, epidemic intelligence service officer for the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. "It’s greatly under-reported and under-diagnosed and under-recognized — we often like to say that it’s been the neglected, neglected tropical disease."
FAQs
Q: What is Burkholderia pseudomallei?
A: Burkholderia pseudomallei is a bacteria found in soil and water in tropical regions.
Q: What is Melioidosis?
A: Melioidosis is a lung infection that may result in pneumonia or sepsis, with a mortality rate of up to 50% in some cases.
Q: How is the bacteria spread?
A: The bacteria can be spread through contact with contaminated soil, and can also be aerosolized during severe weather events, such as hurricanes and tropical cyclones.
Q: Who is at risk?
A: People with underlying conditions, such as kidney and liver problems, are at an increased risk of infection. Healthy individuals can also contract the disease, but it may be more severe in those with underlying conditions.
