CDC Warns Deadly Bacteria That ‘Kills Up To 50 Percent Of Patients’ Detected Across US Gulf Coast

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expressing concern about a dangerous bacteria that allegedly has a fatality rate of up to 50 percent among infected individuals and has now become prevalent in the US Gulf Coast region.

According to Dr. Julia Petras, an epidemic intelligence service officer at the CDC, Burkholderia pseudomallei is likely present in the soil and stagnant waters spanning the 1,600-mile stretch from Texas to Florida. This bacterial infection can lead to pneumonia, sepsis, and even death. Early symptoms include joint pain, fever, and headaches.

Globally, this infection claims the lives of roughly half of its victims, while others remain asymptomatic and naturally develop immunity to combat the pathogens.

Doctors are now advised to be vigilant about this disease, as it can initially be misdiagnosed as another infection. Dr. Petras states that an estimated 160,000 cases occur worldwide each year, resulting in 80,000 deaths. Burkholderia pseudomallei is often referred to as the "great mimicker" because its symptoms can resemble those of various other illnesses.

This disease is significantly underreported, underdiagnosed, and under-recognized, leading it to be considered a neglected tropical disease.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is originally found in the topsoil and muddy freshwater of Southeast Asia and northern Australia.

In 2021, Burkholderia pseudomallei was detected in three patients residing in Kansas, Texas, and Minnesota.

In 2022, the CDC identified the presence of this bacteria, also known as B. pseudomallei, in US soil for the first time along the Mississippi coast.

The CDC warns that these deadly pathogens are now present in Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida.

The provided map illustrates the countries where the bacteria has been detected globally, as well as the US states where the CDC confirms its endemic status.

Dr. Petras explains that this is an environmental organism that naturally inhabits soil and certain freshwater environments worldwide, primarily in subtropical and tropical climates. Patients often experience pneumonia with sepsis and/or sepsis alone, which is associated with higher mortality rates and poorer outcomes.

Infection occurs when individuals come into contact with contaminated water or soil, either through open wounds or ingestion. In rare cases, the infection can be sexually transmitted or transmitted during pregnancy.

It remains unknown how this dangerous bacteria made its way to the United States.

To date, there have been only four recorded cases of Burkholderia pseudomallei in the US, resulting in two deaths. One instance involved individuals who passed away in 2021 after inhaling an aromatherapy spray from India that was contaminated with the bacteria.

Two unrelated individuals in Mississippi contracted the bacteria in 2020 and 2022, prompting the CDC to investigate the soil and water samples around their homes. Fortunately, both patients recovered from the infection.

Dr. Petras assures the public that the CDC has established treatment protocols for this infection. Intravenous antibiotics are administered for a minimum of two weeks, followed by three to six months of oral antibiotics. While the treatment is extensive, early diagnosis significantly improves the prognosis and increases the likelihood of a favorable outcome.