Two dead, four put in ICU after two disease outbreaks in Cairns

Two people have died and a further four had to be sent to Cairns Hospital’s ICU after an outbreak of two serious soil and water-borne diseases in the Far North this year.

TWO people have died and a further four had to be sent to Cairns Hospital’s intensive care unit after an outbreak of two serious soil and water-borne diseases in the Far North.

A total of 25 cases of leptospirosis and a further 17 cases of melioidosis have been recorded within the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service since the start of the year.

Cairns based Tropical Public Health medical officer Dr Annie Preston-Thomas said while these diseases were more prominent during the wet season, this year’s cases was almost double the average total.

The two deaths have been from melioidosis, the more serious of the two diseases, with a further four people requiring intensive care management.

A Melioidosis bacteria sample.

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“Most of these cases occurred in people aged 40-75 years of age living in Cairns,” Dr Preston-Thomas said.

“There have also been 25 cases of leptospirosis in the region since the start of the year, with most occurring in the Cassowary Coast and Tablelands areas.”

She said both were potentially fatal bacterial diseases found in contaminated water and soil, with their outbreaks documented worldwide following extreme weather events.

“Melioidosis is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is typically found in muddy surface waters,” she said.

A patient’s toe after contracting melioidosis.

“Most infections occur when skin abrasions or wounds come into contact with wet soil or water contaminated with the organism.”

Symptoms of acute melioidosis include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

Sometimes the disease may present as superficial skin infection or abscesses. It always requires hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics.

Melioidosis can sometimes have a long incubation period and present months or years after exposure.

Dr Preston-Thomas said leptospirosis occurred throughout mainland Australia but was more common in the tropics, especially after flooding.

“It is caused by the bacteria Leptospira which is passed from animals to people,” she said.

Soil-borne melioidosis is potentially fatal.

“Although it can be passed directly from animals, it is usually transmitted to people by skin or mucous membrane contact with urine of infected animals, which may be in water, moist soil or vegetation.

“There are many different types and they are widespread in the natural environment.

“Animals which may be infected with Leptospira include cattle, pigs, dogs, horses, rats, mice and native animals such as bandicoots.

“Some people are at increased occupational risk in northern Queensland, such as cane cutters,

banana growers and dairy farmers.

“Others may be exposed through outdoor sports such as swimming, wading or white-water rafting in contaminated areas.”

Burkholderia pseudomallei. A bacteria which cause melioidosis, a disease spread through contaminated water and soil.

Symptoms of leptospirosis may include fever, severe headache, muscle aches, vomiting and red/bloodshot eyes.

There may also be cough, abdominal pain and/ or a rash.

People can become severely unwell with involvement of their lungs, liver, kidneys, heart and brain.

Dr Preston-Thomas said that while there is a vaccination for leptospirosis that works in domestic animals, there is no vaccine for melioidosis or leptospirosis that works in people, but there were simple steps everyone could follow to prevent their risk of infection.

These include:

• Wear protective footwear; avoid walking barefoot on muddy surfaces or in muddy water,

particularly if you have cuts or abrasions on your feet or legs

• Wear gloves while working in the garden, farm etc

• Wash hands before eating

• Cover cuts and sores with waterproof dressings

• Wash thoroughly (preferably shower) after exposure to soil or muddy water, and after working outdoors

• Diabetics should maintain good foot care, with help from a podiatrist if necessary

• Avoiding hazardous alcohol use

• To prevent leptospirosis, also clean up rubbish, long grass, food scraps and junk to keep

rodents away

Originally published as Two dead, four put in ICU after two disease outbreaks in Cairns