Melioidosis Disease

A recent study Environmental mapping has revealed that melioidosis disease in Odisha has clear seasonality, with infections peaking during and after the monsoon season.

• The study linked melioidosis cases with environmental conditions, particularly rainfall, temperature, cloud cover, and solar radiation.

About Melioidosis

• It is Bacterial Infectious Disease also sometimes called  ‘Whitmore’s disease’.
• Causing Agent:  Burkholderia pseudomallei;  
• ‘Bacteria found in soil and water’.
  • B. pseudomallei lives in  Surface water (streams, rivers, lakes) and soil, mostly in tropical or subtropical areas.
• Prevalence: Endemic in Southeast Asia, northern Australia, much of the Indian subcontinent, southern China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
• Transmission:  Both humans and animals can get melioidosis, but people can’t get it from animals. 
• Mode of transmission: Inhalation, ingestion, or direct contact with contaminated soil or water.
• Environmental factors influencing disease spread:
  • High rainfall increases exposure to contaminated water and soil.
  • Temperature and humidity create favorable conditions for bacterial survival.
  • Cloud cover and reduced solar radiation may help bacteria persist longer
  • In areas where it’s more commonly found → Melioidosis usually affects adults 40 to 60 years old with certain underlying conditions → Children under 15 rarely get melioidosis.
• Treatment:  It can be treated with antibiotics.