Flesh-eating bug spread by mosquitoes detected on South Coast

Southern NSW Local Health District encouraged community members to watch out for the symptoms of the skin condition Buruli ulcer after a locally acquired case was recently detected in the Eurobodalla.

Transmission of Buruli ulcer was confirmed for the first time in Southern NSW in 2023, after three people were diagnosed with the illness in Batemans Bay between 2021 and 2023.

The recent case is the fourth locally acquired case of Buruli ulcer in southern NSW and the first since 2023.

Buruli ulcer has been reported in parts of Queensland, Northern Territory, and multiple areas in Victoria.

The number of cases in Victoria varies from year to year, but numbers have been increasing to between approximately 200-360 cases per year since 2017.

Buruli ulcers typically appear as a painless red spot and progress over several weeks into an ulcer.

The toxins made by the bacteria destroy skin cells, small blood vessels and the fat under the skin, and that causes ulceration and skin loss.

Anyone with a non-healing skin ulcer should see a doctor.

SNSWLHD said Buruli ulcer was a skin infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans.

It was curable with appropriate treatment, but early recognition and diagnosis were important to minimise skin damage.

While the precise transmission method for Buruli ulcer was not fully understood, SNSWLHD said there was increasing evidence mosquitoes played a role in transmitting the infection.

The disease was also linked to bacteria in possums' excrement which is then carried by mosquitoes.

In many cases, the Buruli ulcer may not appear until four to five months, or longer, after exposure.

As mosquito bites were implicated in transmission, people can reduce their risk of Buruli ulcer by wearing loose, light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and pants and applying mosquito repellent that contains DEET.

Residents can prevent mosquito breeding by removing items around their home that might collect water, such as old tyres or empty pots. Drainage issues should be addressed so that water does not become stagnant.

Ensure coverings for windows and doors have insect screens with no holes or gaps in them.