Cases of a flesh-eating bacterial infection are increasing in Victoria, with health officials warning the disease has started spreading out of coastal areas and into metro Melbourne.
As of December 17 there have been 344 cases of Buruli ulcer in the state so far this year.
While cases were largely popping up in coastal areas, there has recently been an increase linked to Ascot Vale in Melbourne’s inner north-west.
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The disease has also been found in the inner suburbs of Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Brunswick West, Pascoe Vale South and Strathmore.
Other parts of Victoria where the disease has been found include the Mornington Peninsula, the Bellarine Peninsula, East Gippsland, Geelong, Frankston and the Westernport region.
While the infection is not transmissible from person to person, Victorian Chief Health Officer Professor Ben Cowie said there was evidence that both mosquitoes and possums may be to blame for the spread.
On Friday he warned Victorians about not handling possums or their faeces and said it was important to use insect repellant or wear long, loose-fitting clothing to protect against mosquitos.
“Exposed skin contaminated by soil or water should be washed following outdoor activities,” Cowie said on Friday.
While anyone can come down with the disease, cases are highest in people aged 60 years and above in Victoria.
“The risk of contracting Buruli ulcer, however, is still considered low,” Cowie said.
There have been similar warnings from health officials in NSW after two cases of Buruli ulcer were confirmed in Batemans Bay earlier this week.
Infectious diseases experts labelled the town a “new endemic focus of human Buruli ulcer transmission”, as the cases were genetically linked to a previous infection in the town of Eden, 150km away.
What is Buruli ulcer
Buruli ulcer is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans, which releases a toxin that eats away at the skin and underlying soft tissue.
Researchers say it may take four to five months before people realise they are infected, as the average incubation period for the disease is five months.
The primary target for the flesh-eating bacteria is believed to be possums, but as a zoonotic disease, it can be transmitted to humans through mosquitoes, according to researchers in Melbourne.
What are the symptoms?
It begins with a non-healing sore, usually on the leg or arm, lasting for weeks.
Over time, the sore gradually enlarges, and once the wound breaks down, a large, open ulcer is left behind.
Austin Health director of research Paul Johnson told The Age: “It spreads quite slowly but progressively in the layer between skin and muscle. It’s quite silent for a while, you might not notice it.”
The infection is not very painful, as it interferes with pain signals and the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight or detect it early.
What to do if I’m infected?
Simply see a GP, as Buruli ulcers can now be effectively treated with antibiotics and dressings.