Have you ever heard of melioidosis?

THIGV ViP

Member since 26 September 2012

THIGVViP28 June 2021 18:37:32

4426

I never had but apparently it is a bacterial disease endemic to SE Asia and a real problem in Vietnam, mostly in rural areas. Apparently it would be most dangerous to persons walking with bare feet as in rice fields and is potentially fatal. I suppose, like malaria, this is largely unknown in the major cities but even if you are not helping in your in-laws rice field, it still should be of concern for expats as well as Vietnamese who live in rural areas.

It seems a vaccine is underway but still 5-10 years away from general release. It would be logical and possible that trials might take place in Vietnam. An article on melioidosis is here. As I think there may be a paywall here I have included some of the text:

"When Tung Hoang [the lead researcher] escaped war-torn Vietnam as a refugee in the late 1970s, not much was known about a mysterious disease that was killing his countrymen and hundreds of U.S. soldiers, enough so that it was called the Vietnam time bomb."

"It?s serious business, because the disease has nearly a 50% mortality rate and is listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Tier 1 select agent, joining the likes of anthrax and Ebola because of its potential for use in the kind of bio-terrorism that could lead to mass casualties or severe threat to public health and safety."

"The bacterium that causes the disease is endemic to Southeast Asia and Northern Australia and is commonly found in rice fields, polluted water and soil. People can become infected through cuts in their skin, by drinking contaminated water or inhaling particles that contain the bacterium."

"One reason the death toll is so high is that the disease is notoriously misdiagnosed. It has a wide range of symptoms that can be mistaken for staph infections or diseases such as tuberculosis."

"Among the project?s goals is to provide protection from the disease for members of the military serving in tropical areas overseas, as well as for civilian travelers to endemic countries."

Adambpg Member

Member since 14 July 2020

AdambpgMember28 June 2021 18:43:59

I have not but appreciate your post and educating me on it!

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member28 June 2021 21:07:52

7129

Yes.

Caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei

THIGV ViP

Member since 26 September 2012

THIGVViP29 June 2021 01:35:46

4426

OceanBeach92107 wrote:
Yes.

Caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei

During your military time in the US Medical Corps in Vietnam, did you come into contact with persons infected by this bacteria, or is your knowledge based on your academic training? Just curious. Is there any first hand experience that you can add to the article? Thank you.

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member29 June 2021 02:37:53

7129

THIGV wrote:
OceanBeach92107 wrote:
Yes.

Caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei

During your military time in the US Medical Corps in Vietnam, did you come into contact with persons infected by this bacteria, or is your knowledge based on your academic training? Just curious. Is there any first hand experience that you can add to the article? Thank you.

I was in the artillery in Viet Nam.

I didn't retrain for the healthcare field (not "medical") until I returned to CONUS.

After I took basic medic training at Ft Sam Houston, I went through the Army's Clinical Specialist (91C) training.

While we were still in school doing our hospital clinical rotations, POW's from Ha Noi were returning to CONUS and were some of the very first patients I cared for as a student.

Whitmore's Disease (Melioidosis) was taught during our study of tuberculosis, as a "differential diagnosis"; something we might conceivably encounter in one of our patients returning from Viet Nam.

While we didn't personally witness any cases at our Army Medical Center, I recall hearing about the differential diagnosis again years later when I was an RN in California, in a setting where there were many Asian patients being treated for tuberculosis.

Again, I don't recall any of them being diagnosed with Whitmore's.

Although I needed to double check the spelling, "Burkholderia pseudomallei" has stuck in my memory all these years because our instructor at 91C school used it as an exam bonus question.

THIGV ViP

Member since 26 September 2012

THIGVViP29 June 2021 03:49:55

4426

Well, the story showed up in the VNExpress. This time Vietnam related news it traveling in the opposite of the usual direction. Hopefully this discovery will eventually lead to a better life particularly for Vietnamese rice farmers. Notice that the story has two links to stories in 2020 and 2019 about occurrences of the disease.

write2sandy New member

Member since 18 July 2019

write2sandyNew member05 July 2021 18:21:42

RE: CDC USA

Melioidosis, also called Whitmores disease, is an infectious disease that can infect humans or animals. The disease is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei.

It is predominately a disease of tropical climates, especially in Southeast Asia and northern Australia where it is widespread. The bacteria causing melioidosis are found in contaminated water and soil. It is spread to humans and animals through direct contact with the contaminated source.

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member05 July 2021 18:47:55

7129

write2sandy wrote:
RE: CDC USA

Melioidosis, also called Whitmores disease, is an infectious disease that can infect humans or animals. The disease is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei.

It is predominately a disease of tropical climates, especially in Southeast Asia and northern Australia where it is widespread. The bacteria causing melioidosis are found in contaminated water and soil. It is spread to humans and animals through direct contact with the contaminated source.

Thank you Mr. Sandy Kalb of Carbondale, Illinois USA for that great information.

THIGV ViP

Member since 26 September 2012

THIGVViP05 July 2021 19:04:42

4426

OceanBeach92107 wrote:
Thank you Mr. Sandy Kalb of Carbondale, Illinois USA for that great information.

Yes that information is repetitious but don't forget that you recently moved back into that glass house yourself. Welcome to the club. It won't belong before a goodoldboy brings that up, even if as a resident of Mississippi, you are the one who genuinely deserves his moniker.

OceanBeach92107 VIP Member

Member since 31 January 2018

OceanBeach92107VIP Member05 July 2021 21:48:54

#10

7129

THIGV wrote:
OceanBeach92107 wrote:
Thank you Mr. Sandy Kalb of Carbondale, Illinois USA for that great information.

Yes that information is repetitious but don't forget that you recently moved back into that glass house yourself. Welcome to the club. It won't belong before a goodoldboy brings that up, even if as a resident of Mississippi, you are the one who genuinely deserves his moniker.

I don't anticipate having any problems.

You did an outstanding job teaching me which mistakes I shouldn't make.

Besides, goodoleboy and I are buddies now.

I'm bullet proof...

HomeLife Member

Member since 13 April 2015

HomeLifeMember15 July 2021 05:16:04

#11

Yes it a serious dangerous bacteria. Somber post; my friend contracted it in Hue about 4 years ago, which we thought was food poisoning at the time. He did not seem to recover after about 10 days, not be able to walk and in pain in the liver and spleen. Initially unable to get on a flight back to Australia, finally after trying to rehabilitate in Da Nang, he was able to muster enough energy to catch more like a mercy flight. He went down-hill rapidly and after 5 days or so his organs collapsed and he succumbed to Melioidosis, where it had multiplied in his liver and spleen.