Mysterious flesh eating bacteria wreaks havoc in Australia
Buruli ulcer is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium ulcerans and often results in long -term disability and cosmetic deformity. It starts out in form of a small. painless lump. But within weeks, it's eating away the skin and tissue underneath, and unless treated with strong antibiotics, it could grow into a gaping ulcerated wound that may take a year to heal and even need surgical reconstruction.
A rare tropical disease caused by bacteria related to leprosy and tuberculosis, it now, in Australia's temperate south eastern Victoria state is neither rare nor tropical.
The number of cases reported in 2017(275) have further increased by 51%, compared with 2016(182). The cases are also becoming more severe in nature and occurring in new geographical areas.
Its a difficult disease to curb, experts say, because it's unknown how people get the Buruli ulcer. However, some believe mosquitoes may be to blame, as most ulcers are located on people's arms or legs.
Bacterium produces a toxin that not only kills the skin, it suppresses that means the initial infection is often painless and can go unnoticed.
The good news is that it is readily treatable , and the need for amputation in severe cases is very rare. However, the cure and recovery can be highly traumatic. The antibiotic treatment takes two months and comes with significant possible side effects such as inflammation of the liver, rashes, nausea and diarrhoea. It can take six months to a year for serious wounds to heal, and surgery and rehabilitation is needed in severe cases.
Efforts to control the diseases have been severely hampered because the environmental reservoir and mode of transmission to humans remain unknown.
A rare tropical disease caused by bacteria related to leprosy and tuberculosis, it now, in Australia's temperate south eastern Victoria state is neither rare nor tropical.
The number of cases reported in 2017(275) have further increased by 51%, compared with 2016(182). The cases are also becoming more severe in nature and occurring in new geographical areas.
Its a difficult disease to curb, experts say, because it's unknown how people get the Buruli ulcer. However, some believe mosquitoes may be to blame, as most ulcers are located on people's arms or legs.
Bacterium produces a toxin that not only kills the skin, it suppresses that means the initial infection is often painless and can go unnoticed.
The good news is that it is readily treatable , and the need for amputation in severe cases is very rare. However, the cure and recovery can be highly traumatic. The antibiotic treatment takes two months and comes with significant possible side effects such as inflammation of the liver, rashes, nausea and diarrhoea. It can take six months to a year for serious wounds to heal, and surgery and rehabilitation is needed in severe cases.
Efforts to control the diseases have been severely hampered because the environmental reservoir and mode of transmission to humans remain unknown.
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