Mother speaks out after child one of seven infected with melioidosis at Trinity Anglican School

The mother of a child who was infected with a deadly soil-borne disease during an outbreak at a private school in Cairns is warning parents to be vigilant around mud.

The mother of a child who was infected with a deadly soil-borne disease during an outbreak at a private school in Cairns is warning parents to be vigilant around mud.
Her child was one of seven students from Trinity Anglican School affected by a melioidosis outbreak late last year.
The soil-born disease, usually caused when skin abrasions come into contact with contaminated water or soil, is uncommon in healthy adults and rarely seen in children.

The mother, who did not wish to be named, said her son and a number of other students contracted the disease after participating in a school activity.

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

“No one from the school seemed to hear about this melioidosis at first,” she said.

“We heard something about two girls being diagnosed and to be careful in gardens, but nothing else.

“Prior to this, we had never heard of melioidosis or about the risks mud presents in the tropics. We believe raising awareness and education of public is needed to prevent further cases.”

The child is continuing to receive treatment.

It comes after a man in Townsville reportedly died from the disease due to a recent increase in cases in North Queensland.

Annie Preston-Thomas, Tropical Public Health Services Cairns acting director, said the hospital had been notified of the outbreak when it occurred in December.
“There was a school-based event in late 2022 involving soil exposure that may be a possible source,” Dr Preston-Thomas said.

“The children were diagnosed after experiencing prolonged sores and non-healing wounds, which are symptoms of the soil-borne disease.

Cairns Hospital and Health Service confirmed a melioidosis outbreak in December 2022 in which seven children were affected, with at least one continuing treatment.

“The disease usually occurs when skin abrasions or wounds come into contact with wet soil or water contaminated by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei.”
Dr Preston said CHHS were looking into possible reasons for the “unusual” event but there was no evidence to suggest an increased overall risk from general activities in the region.
“Our advice to the school is to withhold future similar events at the site given the potential risk,” Dr Preston-Thomas said.
Melioidosis in healthy people will usually only cause mild disease or superficial skin sores. In more severe cases, symptoms may include fever, cough and difficulty breathing; and can often require hospitalisation for antibiotic treatment.
People with underlying medical conditions are more likely to develop severe reactions to the disease.

There is no vaccine to prevent melioidosis.

Originally published as Mother speaks out after child one of seven infected with melioidosis at Trinity Anglican School