Warning over silent garden killer in backyards across America - after five deaths READ MORE: Deadly bacteria that kills up to 50% now ENDEMIC to US gulf coast By Emily Joshu Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 07:41 EDT, 2 November 2024 | Updated: 07:41 EDT, 2 November 2024 e-mail View comments Experts have warned against a disease lurking in backyards across America after a series of deaths in Australia. Melioidosis is a serious bacterial lung infection that kills up to half of people it infects worldwide.
The illness, which affects about a dozen Americans per year, is caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, which lives in tropical soils and water. Experts have suggested that wet weather like hurricanes and heavy rain, which have become increasingly common in the US, can raise the risk of the bacteria rising to the top of soil in gardens and backyards. It comes after five people in Australia's Northern Territory died from the illness, prompting health officials there to issue an alert to the public.
While mostly found in tropical climates like Southeast Asia and Australia, it can spread to certain coastal areas of the US . These include Mississippi 's gulf coast, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The bacteria usually doesn't cause symptoms, but in severe cases, it can trigger potentially deadly pneumonia and sepsis , the body's overreaction to an infection that causes the immune system to attack healthy organs.
Last year, CDC officials warned Burkhold.