Buruli ulcer, Bairnsdale ulcer cases soar across Peninsula
A Sorrento retiree who spent three months in hospital battling a terrifying mystery ulcer has appealed for research funding into its cause, as cases soar across the peninsula.WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE
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CASES of a mysterious flesh-eating ulcer continue to soar across the Mornington Peninsula.
It comes as an Olympic medallist shared his harrowing story to highlight the need for research into the Buruli Ulcer, also known as the Bairnsdale Ulcer.
Neil Hewitt, 80, of Sorrento, has described how he pleaded with a surgeon to amputate his right arm, due to horrific pain caused by a mysterious flesh eating bug.
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Mr Hewitt spent more than three months in hospital and underwent 15 operations after the bug caused the flesh on his arm to “rot away”.
“It ate the flesh away. It’s changed my life,” he said.
Mr Hewitt said doctors still didn’t know how he contracted the bug.
He has been left with extensive scaring on his arm and limited movement in his right fingers.
He believes stress due to his 2011 illness caused a recurrence of his wife Wendy’s cancer and ultimately led to her death in 2016.
Mr Hewitt — who was part of the bronze medal-winning Australian men’s eight rowing team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics — said more research into the ulcer was essential.
The latest State Government data shows that reports of the bug are spiralling across the region.
The current figures for the ulcer on the Peninsula are 131 cases (at October 22) compared to 78 cases at the same time last year.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council environment protection manager John Rankine said
investigations into how Buruli Ulcer was spread were ongoing.
“We’re working with the Department of Health and Human Services, University of Melbourne and Barwon Health in the planning and the roll out of the intervention study ‘Controlling Buruli ulcer in Victoria’,” he said.
“The aim of the study and intervention is to decrease incidence of Buruli ulcer infection on the Peninsula and to better understand the mode of transmission and risk factors associated with Buruli ulcers.”
The Liberal Party last week pledged — if elected at November’s state election — it would commit $1 million to improve education and awareness of rare diseases so people could get earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.
Nepean Liberal candidate Russell Joseph said too many Peninsula families had been affected by the Buruli Ulcer.
“This public education campaign about the disease will ensure locals and visitors are being diagnosed early and treated more effectively for this horrific disease,” he said.
Health experts are unsure how the vicious bacteria is transmitted and are examining a link with possum faeces.
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