Soil Bacteria Outbreak Claims 14 Lives in Flood-Ravaged Queensland, Australia

A deadly soil-borne bacteria has claimed the lives of 14 people in Queensland, Australia, following the state’s devastating floods, health officials confirmed.

The outbreak of Melioidosis, a rare and antibiotic-resistant disease caused by bacteria found in mud or soil, has raised alarm as experts investigate the surge in cases.

The disease, which is typically found in tropical regions, is known to emerge after heavy rainfall or flooding.

While Queensland has seen cases in the past, 2025 has set a grim record, according to Jacqueline Murdoch, director of Queensland’s Tropical Public Health Services. “We haven’t witnessed anything like this before,” she told the national broadcaster, ABC.

Since the start of the year, 94 infections have been reported, with the majority of patients contracting the disease through inhalation or when it entered their bloodstream, Murdoch said.

The outbreak follows severe storms that dumped over 1.5 meters (59 inches) of rain across Queensland this month, causing widespread flooding that submerged homes, businesses, and roads. Experts suggest the heavy rains played a role in triggering the spike in Melioidosis cases.

Melioidosis has a high fatality rate, with up to 50% of those infected dying due to the bacteria’s aggressive nature and resistance to antibiotics, explained John Bowman, a food microbiologist at the University of Tasmania.

Individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to infection, which presents with fever, breathing difficulties, coughing, and headaches.

As health authorities continue to monitor the situation, the community is urged to exercise caution, particularly in flood-affected areas, to prevent further spread of the deadly bacteria.