Latest news with #JeffreyWarner
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Dozens of people have died from a melioidosis outbreak in northern Queensland
An outbreak of a soil borne disease linked to heavy rainfall and flooding has resulted in dozens of deaths in northern Queensland this year. Queensland Health confirmed 31 people have died from melioidosis and 221 cases have been reported this year, an increase of 163 cases compared the same period last year. 'Cases are most commonly reported in residents of the Torres and Cape, North West, Cairns and Hinterland and Townsville regions,' a spokesman said. According to Queensland Health, melioidosis is rare tropical disease caused by a bacteria found in soil and groundwater in South East Asia and northern parts of Australia across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The disease occurs when bacteria enters the body from soil through cuts or sores, drinking contaminated water or by breathing it in after heavy rain in the wet season or flooding. While melioidosis is rare in healthy adults and children, people with long term health conditions or people who drink heavily are more susceptible to the disease, which can be life threatening. James Cook University head of biomedical sciences and molecular biology Jeffrey Warner has been examining melioidosis in northern Australia. Professor Warner said the saprophyte organism typically lived in the tropics and occurred naturally in soils and water courses after it rained, but its habitat seemed to be expanding. 'That's almost certainly due to both climate and environmental changes that's been happening recently,' he said. 'The disease presents in many different ways, the what we like to say up here in the north, it's one of the most common causes of fatal bacterial community acquired pneumonia that is not acquired in a hospital. 'Because it rains very heavily, the organism can get liberated out of the soil – its natural habitat – and then people predisposed to it can get exposed and become very sick with pneumonia, blood poisoning or sepsis.' Professor Warner said there had been a shift in places were melioidosis was present over the past 10 to 15 years and more cases were appearing in Cairns Melioidosis cases increased by 400 per cent in Cairns and 600 per cent in Townsville this year, and scientists are trying to understand what caused the recent outbreak in the north and why more people were susceptible to it. 'Normally, it was traditionally Townsville, so that's changed and melioidosis has been on the move,' he said. 'Melioidosis is an infection that scientists predicted would change with climate change, because it was an environmental infection people got from the environment. 'We should not be surprised if environment changes and climate changes, it's going to influence the availability of this organism and its ability to be transmitted. 'The climate scientists are telling us the world is warming and as the world warms that has other impacts on climate and weather, and one of those are changes in rainfall.' Professor Warner said Townsville received about five times more rain than normal, measuring up to 5m during the wet season, and as a consequence about six times more melioidosis cases were reported at this time of year. 'There was a clear correlation between the huge amount of rain in Townsville and the huge number of melioidosis cases, but what's really interesting is that Cairns was not quite like that,' he said. 'Cairns had a bit more rain year to date than average it was not significantly more rain, but it had a very large increase in cases that were four times more than normal.' He said authorities were trying to understand if the outbreak was a one off or something they needed to prepare for in the future. 'It's like anything that creeps upon us slowly, we don't necessarily see it happening, or know what the causal effects of it really are,' he said.
The Guardian
05-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
What is melioidosis and why do cases spike after flooding and heavy rainfall?
After major floods in north Queensland at the start of this year, 119 cases of the bacterial disease melioidosis were reported – more than three times the number of cases reported in the same period in 2024. Of these cases, 106 were from the areas around Cairns and Townsville. Sixteen people have died so far. So what is the potentially fatal disease, why are we seeing a spike in cases and what could it mean for people in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred? Melioidosis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial disease which occurs when people have significant contact with contaminated water or soil. Associate Professor Jeffrey Warner, a microbiology researcher from the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at James Cook University, describes melioidosis as an 'opportunistic infection' preying on people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes and kidney problems as well as those who take immune-suppressing medicines. Heavy consumers of alcohol are more at risk, while people in good health are generally not susceptible to serious illness. Warner says melioidosis is a 'great mimicker' of other infections, commonly presenting as a severe chest infection with symptoms of cough, fevers and chills. But it can also affect the skin and internal organs. This mimicry can be dangerous, Warner warns, as the disease is very aggressive and resistant to most antibiotics used to treat standard infections. So rapid identification of melioidosis is critical to ensure correct 'top shelf' antimicrobial treatment. If untreated, pneumonia and sepsis can develop. Melioidosis can be fatal in up to 20% of treated cases, but Warner says people often die with the organism (from complications such as renal failure) not from it. Melioidosis is caused by the bacterial species Burkholderia pseudomallei which are found in the soil and water of tropical regions and considered endemic in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The bacteria is usually located deep in the soil but can be freed by environmental disruption, particularly floods and rainfall. It is most likely to occur in muddy soils. Infection can then occur when the bacterial cells enter susceptible people's bodies through cuts, sores, breathing it in or drinking dirty water. According to a spokesperson for Queensland Health, there have been 119 cases including 16 deaths due to melioidosis in 2025, as of 5 March. Warner says the number of cases in such a brief period is unprecedented but not surprising, because extreme weather is known to cause more cases. Given the number of cases, the rate of fatalities is within the expected rate of 5-10%, he says. 'Even when people present in well resourced hospitals, the disease can be fatal.' Because many older Australians come to Queensland to retire, they often have a higher prevalence of comorbidities, such as diabetes, that are associated with increased incidence of disease and fatality rates, he says. The disease is spread through environmental exposure – it does not usually spread between people or animals. The bacterial species is spread through the environment by rainfall, runoff water or potentially winds. 'Humans can influence its moving around by disrupting the environment … its growing health burden is at the intersection of changing climate, environment and land use,' Warner says. The bacteria typically prefers soils in the tropics, but there is evidence when climate and environmental change moves the bacteria to a non-tropical environment, it can persist, Warner says. Warner says Tropical Cyclone Alfred, expected to hit Queensland's south-east coast, could bring a spike in a number of infections associated with floods and rainfall generally, but the vast majority won't be melioidosis. Since 2013, cases of melioidosis outside north Queensland have only been in the single digits, Warner says. In 2024 there were 10 cases for whole year in the south of the state, so there is a 'little bit of evidence that meliodosis may be on the uptick but it's nowhere near as significant as up in the north'. People affected by the cyclone in the state's south-east could be more significantly affected by mosquito-borne infections, skin lesions caused by other fungi and bacteria in the environment or gastro if sewerage systems don't work, he says. However, it is possible the bacteria which causes melioidosis could travel through aerosolisation. People could potentially breathe it in when particles are carried in the air due to rains and winds during cyclonic events, he says. A spokesperson for Queensland Health encouraged Queenslanders to take precautions including wearing waterproof boots and protective gloves during cleanup following flooding events and always avoid contact with flood water if they have any broken skin or wounds.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bunnings responds after shopper's unusual find in potting mix sparks concern
Concerns were raised by a Bunnings shopper after she made an unexpected discovery inside packaged potting mix, prompting a reminder from the retail giant to always do one thing when using such products in the garden. The shopper bought Scotts Osmocote native premium potting mix this week and when she ripped it open, she was greeted with an unidentified growth which had spread throughout the soil. "Bought Osmocote premium potting mix from Bunnings and I just opened it and it looks mouldy," she said. "Has anyone had this happen to them?" After sharing the discovery online, some Aussies suggested she take it back and ask for a refund. However, others pointed out it's exactly what you want to see — "You want your soil to be alive. This is good," one woman explained. Yahoo News reached out to Bunnings which confirmed the woman's soil discovery is completely normal. The company explained its potting mixes are made up of organic components and subsequently contain micro-organisms, meaning mould often grows inside the bags. It isn't necessarily a common occurrence, but when it does happen, shoppers shouldn't be alarmed. To ease any worried minds, Bunnings suggested Aussies are best placed to follow simple safety precautions when working in the garden — such as wearing gloves and a mask. 😷 Silent garden killer claims four lives in 'unprecedented' Aussie outbreak 😲 Strange garden discovery that 'sprung up' overnight baffles Aussies 😰 Discovery under floorboards leaves Aussies 'genuinely terrified' This was echoed by Aussies online, with one urging other green thumbs to "wear a mask when dealing with potting mix" as "inhaling fungal spores is never good". "Make sure you wear a mask and gloves," another said. If customers do find mould in their soil and are unhappy, Yahoo News understands shoppers are permitted to swap or refund it in store. Previously, health authorities have warned that inhaling contaminated potting mixtures could lead to contracting Legionnaires' disease, tetanus and a range of lung infections, due to the rich range of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms contained in most soil mixtures. In 2022, in NSW there was an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease related to the use of potting mixture, with one woman dying and 96 other people reported as becoming seriously ill. In Queensland, there were 88 cases, two of which were fatal. This year, 41 cases of potentially deadly melioidosis — a serious illness caused by bacteria found lurking in tropical North Australian soils and water — have been recorded in Cairns and its surrounding hinterland region. Since the wet season kicked off in November, almost 60 people have presented to Cairns Hospital with melioidosis, and additional cases have appeared in Townsville, James Cook University microbiologist Jeffrey Warner told Yahoo News Australia last week, describing it as "unprecedented". Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bunnings issues warning after shopper's unusual find in potting mix
Concerns were raised by a Bunnings shopper after she made an unexpected discovery inside packaged potting mix, prompting a reminder from the retail giant to always do one thing when using such products in the garden. The shopper bought Scotts Osmocote native premium potting mix this week and when she ripped it open, she was greeted with an unidentified growth which had spread throughout the soil. "Bought Osmocote premium potting mix from Bunnings and I just opened it and it looks mouldy," she said. "Has anyone had this happen to them?" After sharing the discovery online, some Aussies suggested she take it back and ask for a refund. However, others pointed out it's exactly what you want to see — "You want your soil to be alive. This is good," one woman explained. Yahoo News reached out to Bunnings which confirmed the woman's soil discovery is completely normal. The company explained its potting mixes are made up of organic components and subsequently contain micro-organisms, meaning mould often grows inside the bags. It isn't necessarily a common occurrence, but when it does happen, shoppers shouldn't be alarmed. To ease any worried minds, Bunnings suggested Aussies are best placed to follow simple safety precautions when working in the garden — such as wearing gloves and a mask. 😷 Silent garden killer claims four lives in 'unprecedented' Aussie outbreak 😲 Strange garden discovery that 'sprung up' overnight baffles Aussies 😰 Discovery under floorboards leaves Aussies 'genuinely terrified' This was echoed by Aussies online, with one urging other green thumbs to "wear a mask when dealing with potting mix" as "inhaling fungal spores is never good". "Make sure you wear a mask and gloves," another said. If customers do find mould in their soil and are unhappy, Yahoo News understands shoppers are permitted to swap or refund it in store. Previously, health authorities have warned that inhaling contaminated potting mixtures could lead to contracting Legionnaires' disease, tetanus and a range of lung infections, due to the rich range of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms contained in most soil mixtures. In 2022, in NSW there was an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease related to the use of potting mixture, with one woman dying and 96 other people reported as becoming seriously ill. In Queensland, there were 88 cases, two of which were fatal. This year, 41 cases of potentially deadly melioidosis — a serious illness caused by bacteria found lurking in tropical North Australian soils and water — have been recorded in Cairns and its surrounding hinterland region. Since the wet season kicked off in November, almost 60 people have presented to Cairns Hospital with melioidosis, and additional cases have appeared in Townsville, James Cook University microbiologist Jeffrey Warner told Yahoo News Australia last week, describing it as "unprecedented". Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
