A team of researchers delving into the feces of a marsupial have issued a stark warning about the presence of a bacterium that causes a flesh-eating ulcer in a coastal town in NSW.
Known as Buruli ulcer, this disease has been documented in Australia since the 1940s, primarily in regions like the Northern Territory and far-north Queensland.
However, recent spikes in cases in Victoria, along with its emergence in a southern NSW coastal town, have captured the attention of scientists.
Recent analysis indicates that this bacterium has become endemic in Batemans Bay, located approximately 110km south-east of Canberra.
Researchers meticulously examined two reported cases from 2021 and 2023 in Batemans Bay, as well as analyzed 27 samples of possum droppings.
Possums are believed to be the primary carriers of the bacteria responsible for causing ulcers, while mosquitoes play a crucial role as transmitters to humans.
The group of Australian researchers highlighted their concerns about potential disease expansion similar to what has been observed in Victoria. They published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
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2024-12-17 18:36:01
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