Queensland battles a record-breaking outbreak of melioidosis as flooding and climate change unleash a deadly soil bacterium claiming 31 lives across the state.
At a Glance
- Queensland has reported 215 melioidosis cases in 2025, compared to 59 in 2024 and 46 in 2023, with 31 deaths
- The disease is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria released from soil during flooding and cleanup efforts
- Cairns and Townsville areas have seen 4-6 times more cases than average following severe flooding events
- Climate change-linked extreme weather patterns are driving the unprecedented outbreak
- At-risk groups include those with diabetes, kidney problems, and weakened immune systems
Flooding Unleashes “Vietnamese Time Bomb”
Australia is facing its most severe outbreak of melioidosis on record, with Queensland reporting 215 cases in 2025 alone. This represents nearly a fourfold increase from 2024 (59 cases) and 2023 (46 cases). The surge follows major rainfall and flooding events across the state, particularly in the northern regions of Cairns and Townsville. The dangerous soil-dwelling bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, typically remains dormant but becomes disturbed and airborne during floods and cleanup operations.
The bacteria can remain latent in the body for extended periods, earning it the nickname “Vietnamese time bomb” during the Vietnam War when soldiers became infected but sometimes didn’t develop symptoms until years later. This dangerous pathogen enters the body through skin cuts, ingestion, or inhalation, with post-flood cleanup activities creating particularly risky conditions when pressure hoses aerosolize contaminated soil and water.
Impact on Healthcare Systems and Vulnerable Communities
The outbreak has placed significant strain on local healthcare facilities, particularly intensive care units in affected regions. Treatment requires lengthy courses of specific antibiotics, as the bacterium is resistant to standard antibiotic treatments. While Australia’s 10% mortality rate is lower than global averages thanks to advanced healthcare, the disease remains deadly with 31 deaths reported this year in Queensland alone.
Traditionally, melioidosis primarily affects those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, or compromised immune systems. Heavy alcohol users also face elevated risks. However, this outbreak has unusually impacted younger, otherwise healthy individuals, particularly construction workers and those involved in flood recovery efforts. Indigenous Australians also face disproportionate impact from the disease, reflecting broader health inequities and greater exposure risks.
Climate Change Connection and Preventive Measures
Public health officials have drawn direct connections between this record outbreak and climate change-induced extreme weather patterns. The combination of Cyclone Jasper’s devastating floods followed by additional severe weather events created ideal conditions for the bacterium to proliferate. Infrastructure projects like the Bruce Highway extension may have further disturbed bacteria-laden soil, contributing to increased exposure.
Health authorities recommend precautionary measures including wearing waterproof boots and protective gloves during cleanup operations, avoiding floodwater contact with open wounds, and promptly seeking medical attention for symptoms. These include fever, cough, chest pain, headache, or unexplained skin infections. Early diagnosis is crucial as the disease can rapidly progress to severe pneumonia and deadly sepsis if left untreated. Vaccines remain in development, with experts calling for the World Health Organization to classify melioidosis as a neglected tropical disease.
Australia’s Climate Health Challenge
This unprecedented outbreak underscores the growing connection between climate change and infectious disease threats. Australia’s tropical and subtropical regions face increasing vulnerability to bacterial diseases as warming temperatures and more extreme weather patterns create favorable conditions for pathogens. Globally, about 165,000 cases and 89,000 deaths from melioidosis occur annually, with Southeast Asia experiencing the highest prevalence.
As Australia grapples with the immediate health crisis, experts emphasize the need for greater public awareness, improved diagnostic capabilities, and more research into the relationship between climate events and infectious disease outbreaks. The Queensland outbreak serves as a stark warning about the emerging health threats associated with our changing climate, requiring both immediate response and long-term adaptation strategies to protect vulnerable communities.
