A bacteria with a roughly 50% fatality rate has been discovered along the Gulf Coast of the United States.
The CDC has reported that the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, which can result in potentially fatal melioidosis if untreated, has been linked to three cases of infection.
Julia Petras, an epidemic intelligence service officer with CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, said that “It is an environmental organism that lives naturally in the soil, and typically freshwater in certain areas around the world. Mostly in subtropical and tropical climates.”
Mississippi has received reports of three cases, the most recent in January of this year and the others in May and July of 2020. The melioidosis victims in all three cases made a full recovery.
The CDC reports that the two most frequent ways the bacterium spreads among individuals are through open wounds and by inhalation during a strong windstorm. According to Petras, it can also be consumed through drinking contaminated water.
“This is one of those diseases that is also called the great mimicker because it can look like a lot of different things,” Petras told the outlet. “It’s greatly under-reported and under-diagnosed and under-recognized — we often like to say that it’s been the neglected, neglected tropical disease.”
When the bacterium enters the body, it attacks the organs and develops abscesses.
The most vulnerable to the microorganism are those who have underlying illnesses like diabetes or kidney problems.
“Excessive alcohol use is also a known risk factor, and binge drinking has actually been associated with cases as well from endemic areas,” Petras said.
According to the CDC, symptoms vary depending on what part of the body the bacterium is attacking.
Localized Infection:
Localized pain or swelling
Fever
Ulceration
Abscess
Pulmonary Infection:
Cough
Chest pain
High fever
Headache
Anorexia
Bloodstream Infection:
Fever
Headache
Respiratory distress
Abdominal discomfort
Joint pain
Disorientation
Disseminated Infection:
Fever
Weight loss
Stomach or chest pain
Muscle or joint pain
Headache
Central nervous system/brain infection
Seizures
The CDC says the bacterium is endemic to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
