Gruesome Discovery Linked to Adorable Aussie Possums
A shocking disease affecting locals in a NSW beach town raises concerns about possums as a potential source of infection
Batemans Bay, Australia, Buruli Ulcer, Possums, Infection
Batemans Bay: So, there’s been a pretty alarming situation in this beach town. A nasty disease called Buruli ulcer has shown up, and it’s not pretty. Researchers think it might be linked to possums, which is a bit shocking given how cute they are.
Two people have already been diagnosed with this disease. One is a 94-year-old guy who ended up with a swollen finger, and another is a 71-year-old man who had a nasty ulcer on his arm. Yikes! The researchers are saying that these infections likely came from the local area.
They found the bacteria responsible for the disease in the tissue samples from both patients. It seems like the infection could be spreading from possum droppings or even mosquitoes in the nearby bushland. Who knew those little critters could be so dangerous?
Interestingly, the bacteria has been found in possum scat in places where human cases have popped up before. Both ringtail and brushtail possums can get this infection, and they might be spreading it through their waste. The researchers are now looking into how widespread this issue might be.
Buruli ulcer isn’t just a local problem; it’s been reported in other parts of Australia and even in places like Africa and Japan. Before this, it was seen in Eden, NSW, and in Victoria. The researchers are worried that what’s happening in Batemans Bay could be a sign of a bigger problem coming to NSW, similar to what’s been happening in Victoria.
In Victoria, they’ve been seeing hundreds of cases each year since 2017. It’s a real public health concern. The good news is that it doesn’t seem to spread from person to person, but the researchers are keeping a close eye on things.