Melioidosis on the rise in NT after heavy rain, health officials urge vigilance

Five cases of a potentially deadly disease have been recorded in recent days in the Northern Territory, prompting urgent advice from medical experts.

Melioidosis bacteria against marshland backdrop.

Northern Territory residents are being urged to take precautions against Melioidosis, a potentially deadly bacterial infection that has spiked following recent heavy rain.

NT Health has reported 28 cases of Melioidosis since the Wet season began in October, with five new cases in the past week alone.

The bacteria responsible for the disease live in soil but rise to the surface after heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of exposure through cuts, inhalation, or contaminated water.

Last Wet Season there were 72 cases and five deaths in the NT, highlighting the seriousness of the disease.

Melioidosis lives in soil and mud.

Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and persistent sores or abscesses.

If left untreated, the infection can cause severe pneumonia and blood poisoning, with a fatality rate around 10 per cent.

Health officials are urging residents—especially those with weakened immune systems—to take precautions.

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

Protective measures include wearing waterproof footwear and gloves, covering wounds, avoiding high-pressure hoses on soil, and staying indoors during strong winds.

Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

More information is available at NT Health.

Originally published as Melioidosis on the rise in NT after heavy rain, health officials urge vigilance