NewsDesk @bactiman63

Hong Kong health authorities report one new confirmed melioidosis infection. This is the seventh case reported in 2023.

Burkholderia pseudomallei grown on sheep blood agar for 48 hours/CDC

The case involves a 53-year-old female who has underlying illnesses including diabetes, kidney and liver chronic diseases. She lives in Sham Shui Po. The patient has presented with fever and back pain since June 25. She developed diarrhoea the following day and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital and was admitted on the same day. She has been in stable condition. Her blood sample was confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing.

Hong Kong

A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said that person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but melioidosis bacteria can survive in the local environment. Melioidosis is an endemic disease in Hong Kong and melioidosis cases have been recorded in Hong Kong each year. According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms. The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei of melioidosis in soil and muddy water may become exposed to the ground after typhoons or storms, and the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or storms. As such, the number of melioidosis cases may increase.

In 2022, 46 melioidosis infection cases were recorded in Hong Kong.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube