Heartbreak for Aussie families as death toll from 'killer' disease hits 'unprecedented' numbers

Daily Mail​

17-05-2025

A grieving family have warned Australians to take the 'unprecedented' rise in cases of a deadly, soil-borne disease seriously.
At least 31 Aussies have died after being infected by tropical disease melioidosis so far this year, with 211 cases recorded across the state.
The number of people suffering from the disease, caused by bacteria lurking in mud and dirty water, has seen a significant increase compared to previous years.
The family of Evan Brown, who contracted the disease and died in hospital in March last year, warned that Australians should not assume their symptoms are flu.
'That's something we didn't put together and I really wish that we had,' his wife Sarah Brown said.
'I really hope that people can start to hear the message and really understand that it is present - and it's probably going to get worse if we keep having these big flood seasons.'
Mr Brown, who was diabetic with an auto-immune condition, thought he had suffered from a virus after being sick on and off for a month before he was admitted to hospital.
His organs began shutting down and he was airlifted to the Gold Coast where he eventually passed away.
Ms Brown said the rising death toll was incredibly triggering for her family.
'It's been really scary for us because obviously it makes everything very present and very conscious again for us,' she said.
The fatal tropical disease, caused by bacteria which lives in water or soil that has been disturbed, is commonly detected in northern Australia.
It is seasonal in nature, with cases often occurring during wet season when there has been heavy rain or flooding, such as that seen across Queensland during autumn.
Professor Paul Griffin, Mater Health Services' director of infectious diseases, said the extraordinary flooding in north Queensland was a key factor in the surging cases.
'When you see the rainfall and the flooding events that we've had, it was expected that we'd have a potential increase in cases,' he said.
'But I think the magnitude and the number of deaths in particular is a bit of a surprise.'
Some medical experts have also suggested the disturbance of soil during the Bruce Highway upgrade could be a contributing factor.
'It's certainly been speculated that there's some clustering of cases around there and that may be a factor,' Prof Griffin said.
Infrastructure body Transport and Main Roads, which is responsible for the project, has said previously that they met with researchers about the construction.
'Should health investigations confirm ground-disturbing works are a contributing factor in the spread of soil-borne bacteria causing illnesses, TMR will implement any recommendations from experts to ensure essential road projects meet the highest level of safety,' a TMR spokesperson said.
Those with underlying health conditions like diabetes and lung disease, along with people who drink a lot of alcohol, are urged to take precautions.
Symptoms include fever, pneumonia, exhaustion, vomiting, abdominal pains and chest pressure.
When potentially exposed to contaminated water or handling soil, gumboots, long pants, gloves and masks are recommended.