Doctors are on high alert for cases of a rare infection that can be serious and even fatal for some people.
US health officials report finding a rare but dangerous type of bacteria in soil and water samples in the Mississippi Gulf Coast region.
Call Burkholderia pseudomalleiit can make some people seriously ill if they become infected.
Doctors are now on high alert for any cases.
Melioidosis can occur in people who have conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease. It typically causes symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and headache, as well as lung problems and blood infections.
However, most healthy people who come into contact do not develop the serious condition called melioidosis, which can be treated with antibiotics.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises residents who may be most at risk to take precautions:
- Avoid contact with soil or muddy water whenever possible, especially after heavy rain, and protect any open wounds with waterproof clothing.
- Wear waterproof boots when gardening or farm work
- Wear gloves to protect your hands when working directly with the ground
“Given the very small number of historically identified cases of meliidosis in the United States, the CDC believes that the risk of meliidosis for the general population remains very low,” the agency said.
It is unclear how long it has been in the environment and where else can be found in the United States.
Worldwide, most cases occur in people who live or have traveled to areas where the bacteria occur naturally, such as parts of South and Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Cases of melioidosis have also been associated with contaminated commercial products imported from endemic countries. This happened in the United States in 2021, when a group of four cases in four states were linked to an imported aromatherapy spray that had been contaminated.
Soil investigations in Mississippi were triggered by two cases of meliidosis in unknown people living in the region in recent years. Person-to-person spread is extremely rare.
Health officials tested soil and water samples in and around the homes of both patients. Three of the samples tested positive for bacteria, suggesting that the organism has been present in the area since at least 2020.
Ceará, Brazil
Melioidosis has already been identified in Brazil. The first description of an autopsy case of melioidosis in Ceará dates back to 2003 and reports the case of a 14-year-old girl who was healthy for up to six days before she died. According to the doctors, “after bathing in the pond, he began to have fever, chills, holocranial headache (pain or pressure involving the whole head), postprandial vomiting (those that occur after eating) and, two days later , cough. persistent dryness and pain in the upper abdomen “.
Subsequently, “it evolved rapidly with hypotension, respiratory and renal insufficiency, metabolic acidosis, septic shock and death.”
The report also points out that two brothers also died, the first two days earlier and the second two days later, with similar clinical conditions, all suffering from severe bronchopneumonia with sepsis (generalized infection).
After this first case in 2003, in the rural area of the municipality of Tejuçuoca, Ceará, other cases were recorded, according to the state government.
In a 2017 tech note, state officials warn that melioidosis mimics other infectious diseases and say diagnosis and treatment should be early, as the disease has high lethality.
– This text was published in https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/geral-62346295
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
