Victoria buruli ulcers cases spread in Melbourne, Geelong

A skin-destroying ulcer is spreading throughout Melbourne and Geelong. These are the symptoms to look out for and the suburbs with the most cases.

A child with a buruli ulcer on his lower calf. Picture: Mark Wilson

A skin-destroying ulcer is spreading throughout Victoria, with cases rising in Melbourne and Geelong.

Authorities issued an alert on Thursday, warning buruli ulcer cases had recently increased in Melbourne’s west and inner north, as well as in Geelong.

The alert said the disease — suspected to be transmitted by possums and mosquitoes — was no longer confined to coastal regions but had spread across the state.

Victoria had recorded more than 238 cases by October 2, compared to 207 cases for the same time period last year, 197 for 2021 and 135 for 2020.

This represents a jump of more than 70 per cent since 2020.

The bacterial skin infection — which can be mistaken for an insect bite at first — appears as a “slowly enlarging painless lump or wound” four to five months post-infection.

It can lead to a destructive ulcer that destroys the skin and tissue if not treated.

Treatment typically includes antibiotics and, in severe cases, surgery.

The health alert encouraged doctors to be on the lookout for the disease and urged the public to take measures to prevent mosquito bites, such as wearing repellent and avoiding mosquito prone areas at dusk and dawn.

The disease cannot be transferred from human to human and the highest risk of infection is during the warmer months.