North Queensland residents cleaning up after floods warned of melioidosis, dengue fever

Residents in a flood-ravaged region have been issued a grim warning after a person died from a rare disease found in soil.

An elderly person has died from the serious infectious disease, melioidosis, that can be contracted from contaminated water, prompting a warning to residents in flood-affected North Queensland.

The Townsville Public Health Unit said the elderly person died from melioidosis in the past week, while there have been three new cases of dengue virus.

An elderly Townsville resident has died from melioidosis, a disease spread through contaminated water and soil. Picture: Supplied

Director Dr Steven Donohue said melioidosis cases had increased during the wet season and after the major rains and flooding earlier in February.

“Melioidosis is a very serious infectious disease which is caused by soil bacteria in northern Australia,” Dr Donohue said.

“It can enter the body when a break in the skin comes into contact with contaminated water or by breathing in muddy droplets, causing pneumonia.”

Symptoms for the infectious disease include fever, cough, chest pain, weight loss, muscle pain and headaches, and can develop within days or weeks of exposure to the bacteria.

It can be diagnosed from blood or urine samples and treated with antibiotics.

North Queenslanders, showing Premier David Crisafulli the impact of heavy rains, are still cleaning up after flooding. Picture: NewsWire / Scott Radford-Chisholm

The days of torrential rain led to widespread flooding in North Queensland. (Photo by Handout / Queensland Fire Department / AFP)

Dr Donohue urged residents to take precautions in the clean-up efforts following the floods.

“It’s important to wear gloves, shoes and protective clothing when coming into contact with soil or floodwater, and you should wear a mask if you’re pressure hosing mud to prevent inhaling germs in droplets,” he said.

He also warned people to take precautions against dengue fever, although the risk “remains low”.

“Use a zapper or mosquito coil, keep screens shut to prevent mosquitoes entering your home, remove pooled water where they can breed, and wear protective clothing and repellent to prevent bites.”

Queenslanders can learn more about melioidosis, dengue virus, and other diseases and infections by calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).