Latest news with #melioidosis
Malay Mail
20-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Health authorities investigate mysterious deaths of workers in Ulu Baram
MIRI, July 20 — The Miri Division Health Office has confirmed receiving preliminary reports of melioidosis cases and multiple fatalities involving workers near Sungai Kalai in Ulu Baram. According to health officer Dr P. Raviwharmman Packierisamy, a team comprising a medical officer and health inspectors has been deployed to the affected camp, which is located approximately nine to ten hours' drive from Miri via off-road timber tracks. 'A team from the Miri Division Health Office has been dispatched to the site to conduct investigations, screen other individuals with symptoms, make early referrals to the nearest healthcare facilities, and carry out health education, sanitation, and disease control measures,' he told The Borneo Post. The action follows reports of recent deaths involving several workers in the Ulu Baram area over the past week. Dr Raviwharmman noted that the health office has been working closely with the camp's management and that cooperation from the latter has been constructive. He emphasised that the situation remains isolated and is currently under control. It is understood that four men have died in recent weeks, with the most recent fatality recorded on Saturday, July 19. The individual reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at Miri Hospital. The series of deaths has reportedly raised concern and unease among nearby village communities, prompting heightened monitoring by the authorities. — The Borneo Post * Editor's note: An earlier version erroneously described the fatalities as affecting timber workers and has since been corrected.
Malay Mail
20-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Health authorities investigate mysterious deaths of timber workers in Ulu Baram
MIRI, July 20 — The Miri Division Health Office has confirmed receiving preliminary reports of melioidosis cases and multiple fatalities involving workers near Sungai Kalai in Ulu Baram. According to health officer Dr P. Raviwharmman Packierisamy, a team comprising a medical officer and health inspectors has been deployed to the affected camp, which is located approximately nine to ten hours' drive from Miri via off-road timber tracks. 'A team from the Miri Division Health Office has been dispatched to the site to conduct investigations, screen other individuals with symptoms, make early referrals to the nearest healthcare facilities, and carry out health education, sanitation, and disease control measures,' he told The Borneo Post. The action follows reports of recent deaths involving several workers in the Ulu Baram area over the past week. Dr Raviwharmman noted that the health office has been working closely with the camp's management and that cooperation from the latter has been constructive. He emphasised that the situation remains isolated and is currently under control. It is understood that four men have died in recent weeks, with the most recent fatality recorded yesterday. The individual reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at Miri Hospital. The series of deaths has reportedly raised concern and unease among nearby village communities, prompting heightened monitoring by the authorities. — The Borneo Post
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
New melioidosis death brings number of fatalities in Queensland this year to 35
Another person has died from the soil-borne disease melioidosis in Queensland, bringing the total recorded deaths across the state this year to 35. Queensland Health said the death occurred in the Cairns and Hinterland region in the past seven days. Another case was also recorded in the area in the same period. This year to date, 237 people have been diagnosed with melioidosis in the stat More than half of all cases have been recorded in the Cairns and Hinterland area, followed by the Townsville region. The potentially deadly disease is prevalent in northern Australia, where the bacteria that causes it can be found in soil and water. The bacteria can enter the body via cuts, inhalation or contaminated drinking water. Outbreaks of the illness are often observed during the wet season or flooding. Melioidosis is rare among healthy adults and children. However, the risk is greater for people with health conditions such as diabetes or cancer. Former NRL front rower Sam Backo remains in hospital after contracting melioidosis in Cairns in April. James Cook University associate professor and microbiologist Jeffrey Warner said public awareness was limited due to a lack of knowledge about the disease. Dr Warner said his team had begun a five-year study to better understand melioidosis. "There's a lot we don't know about where the organism is in the environment [and] what preferred environment the organism requires for persistence," Dr Warner said. Suggested causes for the outbreak include above-average rainfalls and the Bruce Highway upgrade. Above-average rainfall hit north Queensland at the start of the year and by May, Townsville had recorded its wettest year on record. Dr Warner said while there was a correlation between unprecedented rainfall in Townsville and where cases had occurred, the same could not be said for Cairns. "There's something else going on here [in Cairns] and we're really interested in looking at the differences … between Townsville and Cairns," he said. "Until we have a better handle on all of those things, we're not going to understand where it is, we're not going to understand who is vulnerable, we're not going to understand the individual behavioural issues that might be associated with acquisition.
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
State of Origin great Sam Backo fighting for his life after fresh health blow
Queensland State of Origin great Sam Backo is fighting for his life. The former rugby league player watched Wednesday's State of Origin decider from the intensive care unit in Cairns Hospital. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Backo, 64, has been in hospital after being diagnosed in April with melioidosis, a bacterial infection commonly found in soil and water in tropical regions. There has been a spike in cases for the Burkholderia pseudomallei bacterium, with 236 notifications and 36 deaths, mainly in the Cairns and Townsville areas, in the first six months of this year. The bacteria are often brought to the surface during flooding or excavations. According to Queensland Health, melioidosis can be contracted via inhalation of contaminated water droplets, soil or dust. Backo said be believes he may have got the infection during a swim in Freshwater Creek at Goomboora Park in Cairns. 'If anybody knows Goomboora, they'll know it's changed a little bit since the flooding,' Backo said. 'When I was sitting in the water I felt this little sting on that scratch — that's where I got the entry from. 'I'm very grateful for my wife, who's been beside me through this journey … all my family that have been praying for me,' Backo said, per the ABC. 'My wife kept saying to me, 'Darl, I think you should go to the doctor'. Then my daughters said I looked a bit grey in colour. Backo is now waiting for a bed at Princes Charles Hospital in Brisbane to have his implantable cardioverter defibrillator upgraded to a pacemaker. He said he was over the worst but had spoken to doctors about 'getting (his) affairs in order' should the worst happened. 'I previously said to them, you know, 'When your time's up, your time's up' — but I've had a rethink,' he said. 'I have 16 beautiful grandchildren. Backo played seven games for Queensland in 1988-90, playing alongside the likes of Wally Lewis and Allan Langer. He also made six appearances for the Australian Kangaroos in 1988-89. A hulking prop for the Canberra Raiders and Brisbane Broncos, Backo played 134 first grade games between 1983 and 1990, as well as representing Queensland in seven State of Origins and Australia in six Tests. In 2023, Backo was in a critical condition in hospital in Cairns after suffering a heart attack. NRL Immortal Wally Lewis said via The Daily Telegraph at the time: 'We wish him all the best, particularly the Queensland guys. 'He was such a dominant prop. When he came on, Sam just destroyed everyone that was in front of him. Sam was the size of a cement truck and he made the most of it. 'That dominating period for Sam, in the late 1980s, probably gave Queensland dominance in size for the first time. 'To have him in control up front, it gave blokes like me, Alf (Allan Langer) and Mal (Meninga) the time and space. He was unstoppable. 'With some of the great back lines we had, I used to give Sam a bit of a spray: 'Sam, we want time, we want some space … get it for us.' And he did it. 'Sam also had the voice that everyday tried to mimic. He certainly drew plenty of love and support from the Indigenous community. He was a very proud representative of that community. 'He was the size of a house.' Fellow former Queensland teammate Trevor Gillmeister described Backo as 'a champion fellow'. 'Sam doesn't take life too seriously and always has a smile on his face,' he said. 'They talk about big blokes these days with footwork but Sam was one of the first that was god on his feet for a big man.'
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Footy legend Sam Backo is unrecognisable in intensive care as he battles life-threatening tropical disease that has killed 34 Aussies this year alone
Footy legend Sam Backo is in the fight of his life in hospital after being diagnosed with melioidosis earlier this year. The tropical disease has killed 34 Aussies this year - and the cult-hero prop, who played seven matches for Queensland - watched Wednesday's Origin decider from the intensive care unit at Cairns Hospital. 'I'm very grateful for my wife, who's been beside me through this journey...(and) all my family that have been praying for me,' Backo, 64, told the ABC. 'That's all they can really do.' Backo - who has been in hospital since April - believes he was infected following a swim in Freshwater Creek at Goomboora Park in Cairns. Backo's diagnosis also comes after he suffered a massive heart attack in 2023, which saw the former front-rower placed in an induced coma. At the time, Rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis, a former teammate of the man known as 'Slammin Sam', said the enforcer was 'unstoppable' up front. Backo recently revealed he was over the worst of the melioidosis - but given his other medical dramas, doctors urged him to 'get his affairs in order'. 'I previously said to them (family), "When your time's up, your time's up" — but I've had a rethink,' he said. Australia has been hit with an unprecedented increase in melioidosis cases this year. The disease, which is caused by bacteria lurking in mud and dirty water, 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. 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. 'I have 16 beautiful grandchildren, I want to see them grow up into strong people.' 'He was such a dominant prop. Sam just destroyed everyone in front of him. Sam was the size of a cement truck and he made the most of it,' he said. 'That dominating period for Sam, in the late 1980s, probably gave Queensland dominance in size for the first was unstoppable. 'He certainly drew plenty of love and support from the indigenous community. He was a very proud representative of that community.' Backo played 134 first grade matches between 1983 and 1990 - 114 for the Canberra Raiders and 20 for the Brisbane Broncos. He was named in the Indigenous Australian team of the century and was the first Aussie forward to score tries in all three Tests during the Ashes series in 1988. Always a passionate Maroons supporter, Backo copped some grief this week for cheering too loudly while watching Billy Slater's men wrestle back the interstate shield at Accor Stadium. 'One of the nurses came around and roused on me,' he said. 'I tried to keep quiet for the rest of the game.'
