14 die of rare antibiotic-resistant Melioidosis in Queensland – Firstpost

Australia’s Queensland has been reeling under an outbreak triggered by a soil-dwelling bacteria that has killed 14 people till now.

The victims died of Melioidosis, a rare antibiotic-resistant disease which is caused by bacteria found in soil or mud after a region witnesses heavy rainfall or flooding.

While cases have occurred in Queensland in previous years, the state’s Tropical Public Health Services director Jacqueline Murdoch said 2025 “absolutely is a record-breaking year”.

“Certainly we haven’t seen anything like this,” she told national broadcaster ABC this week.

Queensland, in northeastern Australia, experienced heavy flooding after storms dumped more than 1.5 metres (59 inches) of rain in parts of the state this month, engulfing homes, businesses and roads.

What is Melioidosis?

Melioidosis is a bacterial infection found in both humans and animals. It is usually spread through contact with contaminated soil, air or water.

Melioidosis has a fatality rate of up to 50 per cent because the “organism is very aggressive and resistant to antibiotics”, University of Tasmania food microbiologist John Bowman said.

What are its symptoms?

Melioidosis presents with a diverse range of symptoms, typically appearing within one to four weeks of exposure. However, in some cases, symptoms may emerge months or even years later. The infection can target a single body system or spread throughout the entire body. Due to its varying presentation and similarity to other illnesses, melioidosis is often difficult to diagnose and can be misidentified.

At times, the symptoms may appear localised and it is often confused with skin sores or ulcers. Common symptoms of Melioidosis are fever, headache, troubled breathing, stomach or chest pain, muscle pain, confusion and seizures.

People with weaker immune systems were most at risk of contracting the disease.

How is it treated?

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), treatment of Melioidosis includes intravenous antibiotics and oral medication.

With inputs from agencies