‘Spreading’: Victoria Health issues grim warning as flesh-eating Buruli Ulcer disease moves across the state

A gruesome flesh-eating bacteria, thought to be transmitted by an iconic Aussie animal, is spreading in one state and health experts warn “everyone” is at risk.

Victoria’s Health Department released the grim alert on Friday for Buruli Ulcer, which is a bacterial skin infection that damages soft tissue and can cause serious disfigurements.

“Lesions typically present as a slowly enlarging painless lump or wound which can initially be mistaken for an insect bite,” Victoria’s chief health officer Professor Ben Cowie said on Friday.

“Case numbers so far this year are higher compared to previous years.

“The disease is spreading geographically across Victoria and is no longer restricted to specific coastal locations.”

The department has now detected the disease in the Mornington Peninsula, Westernport, Bellarine Peninsula, East Gippsland and Frankston and Langwarrin regions.

It has also been detected in the south eastern bayside suburbs – including the Surf Coast shire towns of Breamlea, Torquay, Anglesea and Aireys Inlet, parts of greater Geelong and the inner-Melbourne areas of Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Brunswick West, Pascoe Vale South, Ascot Vale and Strathmore.

Professor Cowie warned the disease could strike “everyone”.

“Disease can occur at any age, but Buruli ulcer notifications are highest in people aged 60 years and above in Victoria,” he said.

“The Risk of contracting Buruli ulcer, however, is still considered low.”

The department said the warmer months brought with them a higher risk of Buruli infections and it usually took between four to five months for an ulcer to develop following infection.

It is suspected possums and mosquitoes play a role in transmitting the disease.

“The disease is not transmissible from person to person, however there is evidence that both mosquitoes and possums play a role in disease transmission in Victoria,” Professor Cowie.

“The bacterium that causes the ulcer is also found in possum excrement and possums have been observed with ulcers and open sores. It is advised not to handle possums and avoid contact with their faeces.”

The alert follows an alert from Neglected Tropical Diseases researchers of a new Buruli zone in Batemans Bay in NSW.

Two cases of Buruli have been detected in the popular beach town and researchers believe the infections were locally acquired, meaning the disease is now likely entrenched in the area.

In one case, a 94-year-old man suffered a swollen, wounded finger after being infected.

In another, a 71-year-old man suffered an ulcer on his right arm that expanded to 4x4cm in size.

Buruli ulcer has been detected in parts of central and west Africa, Japan and Australia.

The researchers warned the Batemans Bay cases could be a “harbinger” of a “disease expansion” in NSW similar to Victoria.

Victoria’s Health Department has recorded between 200 to 340 cases of Buruli infections each year from 2017.

The department said people could reduce their risk of an infection by avoiding mosquito bites, mosquito proofing homes, wearing gloves and long-sleeved shirts while gardening or outdoors and avoiding sick possums.