Soil-dwelling bacteria kills 14 in Australia

A soil-dwelling bacteria has killed 14 people in Australia's flood-hit state of Queensland, officials said, as health experts investigate what caused the outbreak.

Melioidosis, a rare antibiotic-resistant disease caused by bacteria found in soil or mud, often surfaces in tropical areas after heavy rain or flooding.

While cases have occurred in Queensland in previous years, the state said 2025 "absolutely is a record-breaking year. Certainly we haven't seen anything like this."

There have been 94 total infections in the state since the start of the year, Queensland Health data shows.

Infection only occurs if the disease is inhaled or enters a person's bloodstream, and most of the patients contracted the disease by breathing it in, officials said.

As investigations continue, authorities noted that "the climate has something to do with it."

Queensland, in northeastern Australia, experienced heavy flooding after storms dumped more than 1.5 meters of rain in parts of the state this month, engulfing homes, businesses and roads.

Melioidosis has a fatality rate of up to 50 percent because the "organism is very aggressive and resistant to antibiotics," experts said.

Symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing, coughing and headaches.

Agence France-Presse