Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Tropical disease kills 1, infects 7
REBEKAH CAVANAGH
23Jan08
ONE person has died and three more are fighting for their lives in intensive care after contracting melioidosis in the Top End.
A further seven people have been diagnosed with the tropical killer disease this wet season _ but have since been treated.
One case involved a visitor who developed the disease after returning to their home interstate. No children have been affected.
The NT Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS) would not give the circumstances surrounding the death from the disease.
All the department would say is that there had been cases "all over the Territory", including Darwin and Katherine and in remote areas.
And DHCS Centre for Disease Control director Vicki Krause yesterday warned more people could fall victim to the disease before April.
"This is a serious disease - every year we have people dying from melioidosis," she said.
"We just want people to be reasonable and know they live in an environment where this bacteria is in the soil, particularly after rains."
Melioidosis is caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. It killed five people in the Territory during the last Wet, and more than 30 cases were reported.
Dr Krause said the bacteria lives below the soil's surface during the dry season but after heavy rainfall can be found in surface water and mud.
She said it can also become airborne - and people are more at risk after cyclonic weather.
There was widespread flooding in Darwin last week after the NT capital recorded its fifth highest ever rainfall since records were kept.
It came a week after Cyclone Helen.
Melioidosis can enter the body through small cuts in the skin.
It can also be contracted through inhalation of dust, droplets or swallowing contaminated water.
People with diabetes, alcoholism and kidney or lung disease are at more risk.
Symptoms include skin ulcers or sores, fevers, weight loss, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and, occasionally, neurological problems, such as headache and confusion.
The incubation period for acute disease can range from one to 21 days.
Dr Krause urged people to wear protective clothing if working in the garden or in muddy or wet areas. Anyone who has symptoms should visit their GP.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/01/23/3164_ntnews.html
REBEKAH CAVANAGH
23Jan08
ONE person has died and three more are fighting for their lives in intensive care after contracting melioidosis in the Top End.
A further seven people have been diagnosed with the tropical killer disease this wet season _ but have since been treated.
One case involved a visitor who developed the disease after returning to their home interstate. No children have been affected.
The NT Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS) would not give the circumstances surrounding the death from the disease.
All the department would say is that there had been cases "all over the Territory", including Darwin and Katherine and in remote areas.
And DHCS Centre for Disease Control director Vicki Krause yesterday warned more people could fall victim to the disease before April.
"This is a serious disease - every year we have people dying from melioidosis," she said.
"We just want people to be reasonable and know they live in an environment where this bacteria is in the soil, particularly after rains."
Melioidosis is caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. It killed five people in the Territory during the last Wet, and more than 30 cases were reported.
Dr Krause said the bacteria lives below the soil's surface during the dry season but after heavy rainfall can be found in surface water and mud.
She said it can also become airborne - and people are more at risk after cyclonic weather.
There was widespread flooding in Darwin last week after the NT capital recorded its fifth highest ever rainfall since records were kept.
It came a week after Cyclone Helen.
Melioidosis can enter the body through small cuts in the skin.
It can also be contracted through inhalation of dust, droplets or swallowing contaminated water.
People with diabetes, alcoholism and kidney or lung disease are at more risk.
Symptoms include skin ulcers or sores, fevers, weight loss, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and, occasionally, neurological problems, such as headache and confusion.
The incubation period for acute disease can range from one to 21 days.
Dr Krause urged people to wear protective clothing if working in the garden or in muddy or wet areas. Anyone who has symptoms should visit their GP.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/01/23/3164_ntnews.html
