In an unprecedented medical case, a woman became the first person in the world to contract melioidosis, a life-threatening bacterial disease, from her own freshwater aquarium in Maryland, US, in 2021.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this rare infection was traced back to her home fish tank, which housed imported tropical fish. The discovery, published in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, has raised awareness about this unusual mode of transmission and the potential risks lurking in seemingly innocuous places.
What is Melioidosis?
Melioidosis is a bacterial infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is most commonly found in tropical regions, particularly in parts of Southeast Asia and Australia. In the U.S., cases are extremely rare and typically occur in people who have traveled to areas where the bacteria is endemic. But this Maryland woman had never left the U.S., making her case even more remarkable.
The bacterium usually thrives in contaminated soil and water. Infection can occur through inhalation, ingestion, or through skin contact with contaminated sources, particularly if there are cuts or abrasions on the skin. Once contracted, the infection may not manifest immediately, with symptoms taking weeks to appear.