Territorians are advised to take precautions to avoid contracting melioidosis from groundwater following heavy rains caused by Cyclone Helen and to avoid any water contaminated by sewage from overflowing septic tanks, particularly in the rural area.
The Department of Health and Community Services advises the following precautions should be taken in affected areas:
- Do not swim in groundwater or floodways, creeks and stormwater drains
- Keep children away from unnecessary contact with mud and groundwater
- · Do not swim in pools inundated with floodwater until the water quality is ensured
- Where a septic tank is utilised treat all groundwater as potentially contaminated by sewage
- Wear protective gloves and covered shoes or boots when cleaning up after heavy rain and treat any cuts with antiseptic
- Wear a mask over nose and mouth when using a hose or high pressure hose to clean up after floods to avoid breathing contaminated water droplets
- Avoid unnecessary contact with mud and dirt
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling any contaminated objects or pets that may have swum in contaminated waters
Centre for Disease Control Director, Dr Vicki Krause said melioidosis can be contracted from groundwater and from airborne water droplets so it is important to wear protective clothing and masks when in contact with groundwater.
"Melioidosis is a disease caused by a bacteria in the soil that can be transmitted through open cuts or broken skin.
"People infected with melioidosis can become extremely ill within a few days of becoming infected and the disease can be fatal," Dr Vicki Krause.
Symptoms can include skin ulcers or sores that fail to heal, abscesses, unexplained fevers, confusion, headaches and breathing difficulties. Mild symptoms that may occur include weight loss, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain, and difficulty in passing urine.
People most at risk of developing Melioidosis have an underlying condition that impairs the immune system, such as diabetes, heavy alcohol consumption, kidney disease, lung disease, cancer and those on steroid therapy.
"While those most at risk are advised to stay indoors during periods of heavy wind and rain, due to the aerosolisation of the disease, everybody in contact with groundwater and soil should wear protective clothing," Dr Krause said.
People should also take precautions with food preparation, particularly where affected by power outages:
- throwing out any food that has been in contact with floodwaters
- not opening fridge and freezer doors unnecessarily
- eating perishable foods (dairy products and meat) in fridges first and partially thawed frozen food
- not re-freezing partly thawed food
- disinfecting any food preparation items, eg dishes, pots and pans that have come in contact with groundwater for 10 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach per 2 litres of hot water
- maintaining good personal hygiene by washing hands before food preparation.
Media contact: Sonia Peters 0401 119 550
Release date: 5 January 2008
