<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cases of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/townsville-patient-dies-from-rare-soil-disease-after-flooding/69545ccb-92c6-4441-8f14-e6d06d880b27" rel="" target="" title="Melioidosis"><span>Melioidosis</span></a><span>, a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/disease" rel="" target="" title="bacterial infection"><span>bacterial infection</span></a><span> found in tropical climates that is sometimes referred to as a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-floods-weather-bacteria-infection-death-melioidoses/cd4498ca-9024-491f-810f-7eeaa6ff8ca9" rel="" target="" title="'mudbug'"><span>'mudbug'</span></a><span>, have sharply risen in Australia since the start of this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/health" rel="" target="" title="Health "><span>Health</span></a><span> recorded 111 melioidosis cases as of March 2, more than three times the number for the same period in 2024, with the majority in Cairns and Townsville leading off the disastrous North Queensland floods in February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Even more worryingly, 16 Aussies have reportedly died from the disease this year. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tropical-cyclone-alfred-disaster-relief-payments-how-to-claim-everything-to-know-explainer/b2925c86-0647-47f6-832d-2525432af180"><strong><span>How to access cyclone recovery payment</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The heightened incidence of melioidosis prompts concerns for south-east Queensland as it endures flooding from ex-Cyclone Alfred.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.ama.com.au/qld" rel="" target="" title="Australian Medical Association Queensland "><span>Australian Medical Association Queensland</span></a><span> President and Hervey Bay GP Dr Nick Yim spoke to 9News.com.au about the concern.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Is there a melioidosis outbreak risk in south-east Queensland?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/melioidosis-southeast-queensland-floods-cyclone-alfred/22b1a732-89f5-455d-be7b-b586d9996c28" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melioidosis is endemic to northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, where tropical cyclones, floods, and warm, humid weather are most frequent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, Yim said the disease can pop up in similar climates and conditions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Obviously, there is currently increased rainfall in the area," he says. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We also know that the south-east Queensland corner is quite warm. Melioidosis can lurk in these environments."</span></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2025/03/04/14/44/tropical-cyclone-alfred-update-photos"><img alt="" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/3_oeunSAE0XSN3-MSKxqgbEpqYY=/0x112:1080x719/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fc4b118c3-e7ce-4f3d-a159-208d9acf8534" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/3_oeunSAE0XSN3-MSKxqgbEpqYY=/0x112:1080x719/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fc4b118c3-e7ce-4f3d-a159-208d9acf8534 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/kvYKv8OBpMp8Zc8P2BLX1UgCsz8=/0x112:1080x719/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fc4b118c3-e7ce-4f3d-a159-208d9acf8534 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Koala who fell from tree one of many animals rescued from cyclone</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2025/03/04/14/44/tropical-cyclone-alfred-update-photos">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>How does melioidosis infection occur?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Melioidosis occurs in contaminated soil and water, putting people in flood zones at risk during both flooding and cleanup.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Melioidosis enters the body through cuts and scratches, and, when it does become a little bit airborne, it can be breathed in and entered by the lungs," Yim says.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/extropical-cyclone-alfred-police-rescue-woman-from-car-in-queensland-floodwaters/478f556c-3972-4307-8f11-5f3a43033004"><strong><span>Police wade through deep floodwaters to save woman trapped in car</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>How do I keep myself safe?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once the disaster ends and people start to clean everything up, ensure that you are wearing personal protective equipment," Yim says.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That includes a mask, safety goggles (if using a pressure cleaner), gloves, and appropriate footwear.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We don't want to see people cleaning up in thongs or bare feet," Yim says.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>People who are elderly and/or immunocompromised or immunosuppressed - including those with diabetes, liver and kidney disease, and cancers - should be particularly careful, as they're more at risk of severe cases of melioidosis, he adds.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/police-charge-14-people-over-antisemitic-incidents-across-sydney/977be862-f768-4e70-8bdc-e644a8b5bcfb"><strong><span>Charges laid over alleged antisemitic attack on Sydney childcare centre</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What symptoms should I look for?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those in flood and cyclone-affected areas should look out for fevers, headaches, trouble breathing, and chest and muscle pain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Symptoms can develop in 1-4 weeks, which means now is the time to be vigilant, even though, for most places, the worst of the flooding and storms is over. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If symptoms do develop, it's really important to touch base with the GP, just to get assessed," Yim says.</span></div></div>