Emergence of melioidosis in the Indian Ocean region: Two new cases and a literature review.

• Published in: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Nicolas Allou, Olivier Martinet, Jérôme Allyn, Bruno Bouchet, Marie-Christine Jaffar-Bandjee, Thomas Galas, Nicolas Traversier, Olivier Belmonte
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic; Indian
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006018; https://doaj.org/article/0fe558d1a0a543bc8257e6cb858d1dac

Melioidosis is a disease caused by bacteria called B. pseudomallei. Infections can develop after contact with standing water. This disease can reach all the organs and especially the lungs. It is associated with a high mortality rate (up to 50%). Melioidosis is endemic in northern Australia and in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, B. pseudomallei may be endemic in the Indian Ocean region and in Madagascar in particular, so clinicians and microbiologists should consider acute melioidosis as a differential diagnosis in the Indian Ocean region, in particular from Madagascar.