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It sound like a movie plot : A cryptic " flesh - rust " disease is spread , and no one knows how to stop it . But that ’s the situation wellness official in Australia are face now as they try on to tackle a spring up " epidemic " of a stipulation bid Buruli ulceration .
In recent years , Australia has get word a rapid rising in cases of Buruli ulceration , an infection that causes ulcers onthe skinand can ruin peel and lenient tissue paper . In 2016 , there were 186 report cases of the infection in Australia , up from 74 typeface in 2013 — an increase of 150 percent , concord to the World Health Organization(WHO ) . case increase even further in 2017 , with a projected 286 cases for that year , fit in to a new report from researchers in Victoria , Australia .
A disease called Buruli ulcer is spreading in Australia, particularly in the state of Victoria. Above, a view of the Mornington Peninsula, an area where the disease is spreading.
Making matters worse , scientist still do n’t eff how Buruli ulcer is spread or how to prevent contagion . [ 27 withering Infectious disease ]
" As a community , we are facing a rapidly worsen epidemic of a severe disease without jazz how to prevent it , " the research worker wrote inthe report , published yesterday ( April 16 ) in The Medical Journal of Australia . " We therefore need an urgent reply " to undertake the disease , they enunciate .
Buruli ulcer is not unique to Australia ; the infection has been report in 33 countries in Africa , South America and the Western Pacific , according tothe WHO . In 2016 , there were 2,206 case worldwide , with Australia and Nigeria reporting the most example . And although cases have been report in Australia as far back as 1948 , the body politic has see a spindle in cases since 2013 .
A disease called Buruli ulcer is spreading in Australia, particularly in the state of Victoria. Above, a view of the Mornington Peninsula, an area where the disease is spreading.
The situation is particularly concerning in Victoria , where case come out to be " becoming more severe in nature , and occurring in new geographic area , " the report said .
Buruli ulcer is triggered by a bacteria calledMycobacterium ulcerans , which belongs to the same family of bug that cause tuberculosis andleprosy . The bacterium farm a toxin that destruct tissue , conduct to large ulcers , often on the arms or legs , the WHO says . Without early treatment , patients may acquire long - term disabilities , such as limited joint movement , or involve plastic surgery .
Although it ’s undecipherable exactly how the disease is distribute , researchers have some theories — for example , the disease may pass to humans from insects found in water supply , agree to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Specifically , mosquitoeshave been paint a picture as letter carrier of the disease ; the insects have been recover to examine prescribed forM. ulcerans , and the utilization of insect repellent has been linked with a reduce risk of exposure of infection , according to the new report .
animate being in Australia — including possums , dogs , khat and Phascolarctos cinereus — have also been found to produce Buruli ulceration , but it ’s still uncertain whether they play a office in spreading the disease , the report said . Recent evidence suggests that the transmission does not spread from person to someone .
The researchers called for a " thorough and exhaustive interrogation of the environs , local creature , human behavior and characteristics , and the interactions between them " to well understand the disease and its hazard factors . " It is only when we are armed with this decisive knowledge that we can trust to halt the devastating impact of this disease through the figure and implementation of effective public wellness interventions , " the researchers conclude .
Original article onLive Science .
