The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control reported on Wednesday that a lethal bacteria had been discovered in the soil and water along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.
Melioidosis, which is deadly in 10–50% of cases, can be brought on by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, or B. pseudomallei.
This was the first time this bacteria has been discovered in the United States.
The disease can cause a variety of symptoms, including fever, joint discomfort, and headaches.
The disease can progress to more dangerous disorders like pneumonia, blood infections, and abscess formation.
An average of 12 cases are detected in the United States each year, with most of them having recently gone to a nation where the bacteria is endemic.
It is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions such as South and Southeast Asia, northern Australia, sections of Central and South America, and Puerto Rico.
It is unknown how long the bacteria has been in the environment or where else it may be found in the United States.
However, modelling suggests that the environmental conditions seen in Gulf Coast states are conducive to the growth of B. pseudomallei.