Nine people have died from a disease linked with heavy rain since the start of summer, sparking health concerns. North Queensland is recovering from weeks of wet weather that caused record-breaking flooding from Mackay to Cairns, with two people drowning and hundreds forced to evacuate. As the region prepares for a potential cyclone, it is reeling from another threat lurking in the mud and dirty water left behind by the February floods.
Townsville Public Health Unit Director Steven Donohue confirmed three people had died from melioidosis since the floods, including elderly people from Ingham and Townsville. There have been 24 cases of the soil-borne disease since the floods began. Melioidosis also claimed two lives with six cases recorded in Townsville in January. The disease has also claimed four lives further north in Cairns, with the region recording a total number of 41 cases since January 1.
North Queensland is recovering from weeks of wet weather that caused record-breaking flooding from Mackay to Cairns, with two people drowning and hundreds forced to evacuate pictured: floodwaters in Giru, south of Townsville. Townsville Public Health Unit Director Steven Donohue confirmed three people had died from melioidosis stock image since the floods, including elderly people from Ingham and Townsville. The most at-risk Queenslanders are elderly people with diabetes, kidney trouble and other chronic illnesses like lung disease or heavy alcohol users.
Soil bacteria rose to the surface in muddy water and people breathed it in or it entered the body through a break in the skin, he said. Symptoms range from fever, pneumonia, exhaustion, vomiting, abdominal pains or chest pressure. Queenslanders cleaning up from the record-breaking floods are urged to wear boots, long sleeve pants, gloves and a mask. Five cases of mosquito-borne dengue virus have been identified in two clusters in Townsville.
Dr Donohue said it was not clear whether the cases were connected but believed the risk to the public was low. Soil bacteria rose to the surface in muddy water and people breathed it in or it entered the body through a break in the skin, Dr Donohue. North Queensland is on edge with a tropical low off the sodden coast considered a high chance of becoming a cyclone.
