At least four people have died this week after contracting a dangerous wet season disease, including one person in Cairns, one in Mackay and two in Townsville.
Melioidosis has killed 11 people in the North and Far North this wet season, with 61 cases recorded at Townsville Hospital and 77 at Cairns Hospital since January 1.
Melioidosis is a soil-borne disease, where bacteria can be stirred up during heavy rain or flooding. The tropical disease can cause nasty skin sores as well as severe pneumonia and sepsis.
Townsville Public Health Unit director, Dr Steven Donohue, says the increased deaths can be attributed to an ageing population, who are more at risk of contracting the disease, moving to areas where soil is being disrupted during heavy rainfall.
Dr Jacqueline Murdoch from Cairns Hospital and Hinterland Health Services, says there are ways people can protect themself from Melioidosis, including avoiding the outdoors in heavy rain, wearing gloves when gardening and strapping on a mask if shoveling wet soil.
