Buruli ulcer: Concern over surge in flesh-eating disease cases in Victoria as mosquitoes spread it

A flesh-eating disease that causes open wounds on the body is spreading rapidly through bites by mosquitoes and contact with possums.

More than 266 cases of Buruli ulcer have been recorded across Victoria this year, with the disease linked to suburbs in Geelong and the southeast coast. 

The skin infection, which is most common in Sub-Saharan Africa and Australia, often begins with swelling or a painless nodule usually on the arms or legs and eventually develops into an open ulcer. 

The Buruli ulcer condition is a flesh-eating disease that causes painless open wounds on the body. More than 266 cases have been recorded in Victoria this year (pictured, a severe case of the flesh-eating bug on an 11-year-old boy)

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Dr Brad McKay told Weekend Today that there are fears mosquito numbers, which were increased by Australia’s third La Nina, along with possums carrying the bacteria, will see the disease spread further. 

‘We’ve sort of seen a link between this particular bacteria being in ringtail possums, also seen in mosquitoes as well,’ he said. 

Dr McKay said there was ‘some evidence’ mosquito bites were also introducing the bacterial infection.

‘People just see it as being a bit of a mosquito bite that doesn’t heal, often the red patch just gets slightly bigger over time,’ he said.

The disease is often painless and develops into an ulcer, which ‘crusts over’ and continues expanding across the body.

A toxin develops once the bacteria gets under the skin, which eats away at skin cells, blood vessels and fat.

The incubation period ranges from four weeks to nine months, with an average of four to five months. 

It is not transmissible from person to person. 

‘You have to be really vigilant about it because if you don’t see your doctor then – and don’t do anything about it – if you’re not put on antibiotics and not having a proper diagnosis it can eat away at your flesh and create big holes that need massive dressings or even plastic surgery,’ the doctor added. 

Dr Brad McKay (pictured) told Weekend Today that mosquitoes and possums carrying bacteria could see case numbers for Buruli ulcer spike over the summer

There are fears the mosquito season combined with the recent wet weather will bring more numbers of the flying insect (stock image)

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Besides Geelong and the southeast coast, the disease has also been reported in parts of Melbourne and regional Victoria including Brunswick West, Essendon, Frankston, Phillip Island, and the Mornington peninsula region. 

Health authorities said the disease was spreading geographically across Victoria and no longer restricted to specific coastal locations.

Last year, there were 227 reported cases and the year before there were 165.

People aged 60 and up are most at risk, but the disease can occur at any age.

Australians were urged to cover up while working in the hot summer weather, avoid contact with muddy water and boggy areas and cover open wounds such as cuts.