Arabic version: ارتفاع حالات قرحة بورولي في فيكتوريا ونيو ساوث ويلز

According to ABC News, Buruli ulcer cases are rising in Victoria and have recently appeared on the New South Wales south coast near Batemans Bay. Victoria recorded 426 confirmed cases last year and is considered the Buruli ulcer centre of the world.

The condition is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans. It can be transmitted to people by mosquitoes, with ulcers often occurring on arms and legs near bite sites. Possums can also be infected and shed the bacteria in droppings, which may introduce it to soil and potentially into cuts in human skin.

Buruli ulcer may begin as a small, painless lump that is easy to overlook. The bacteria can numb the affected area, kill surrounding tissue and suppress the immune system. In many cases, the lump progresses to an ulcer, while first symptoms may not be noticed until five or six months after infection.

Diagnosis involves PCR testing of a swab to check for the bacteria. Treatment generally begins with six to eight weeks of antibiotics, and surgery may be needed when tissue damage is extensive or wounds do not heal properly. Even with treatment and wound care, healing can take months or up to a year.

Infectious diseases physician Daniel O’Brien advises people to seek medical attention for suspicious lumps, particularly after living in or visiting an area where the bacterium is known to occur. Recommended precautions include covering exposed skin, using mosquito repellent, protecting wounds while handling soil, washing injuries with soap and water, applying antiseptic, avoiding sick or injured possums, and removing standing water where mosquitoes breed.