Nine people die of melioidosis in ‘record-breaking’ season

Nine people have died from a bacteria-borne disease since the start of the year in what health authorities have described as a “record-breaking” outbreak in Far North Queensland.

Tropical Public Health Services director Dr Jacqueline Murdoch said her team was investigating the cause of a 'record-breaking' spike in melioidosis cases around Cairns since January 1, 2025. Photo: Catherine Duffy.

Nine people have died from a bacteria-borne disease since the start of the year in what health authorities have described as a “record-breaking” outbreak in Far North Queensland.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service have confirmed nine people have died and 53 cases of melioidosis have been recorded in the region since January 1, 2025.

Tropical Public Health Services director Dr Jacqueline Murdoch said her team was still investigating the cause of the disease spike.

“It absolutely is a record-breaking year – we haven’t seen anything like this and the numbers are very alarming,” she said.

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

Melioidosis is a soil-borne disease caused by bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei, which can typically be found in soil and water in northern Australia and southeast Asia.

Those most at risk of contracting the disease are the elderly, immunocompromised people, those undergoing cancer treatment, and people with alcohol abuse problems.

Dr Murdoch said climate was “certainly” a factor, particularly after last year’s wet season, however it would not be the only cause.

“Probably other climactic factors (are) the high maximum temperatures and things like that, but we need to do some further work to investigate it.”

Dr Murdoch confirmed the majority of cases originated in the southern Cairns corridor, such as Edmonton, however central Cairns suburbs were also affected.

Tropical Public Health Services director Dr Jacqueline Murdoch said her team was investigating the cause of a 'record-breaking' spike in melioidosis cases around Cairns since January 1, 2025. Photo: Catherine Duffy.

“What we can say is the vast majority of cases we are seeing are in that southern Cairns corridor, though we have seen cases as well in central Cairns; Manoora, Manunda, that sort of region, but all the way through to Edmonton is where we are seeing the majority of the cases,” she said.

While the disease can be treated with a combination of intravenous and oral antibiotics, Dr Murdoch said prevention and early treatment were key.

“So (high risk) people really need to be careful about being outside in heavy rain, being in contact with soil and certainly anybody using a high pressure hose should be wearing a mask so they’re not breathing that bacteria if it is in the soil,” she said.

Originally published as Nine people die of melioidosis in ‘record-breaking’ season