What is Buruli ulcer?
Buruli ulcer (also known as Bairnsdale ulcer) is an infection of skin and soft tissue caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium (M.) ulcerans. If the infection is left untreated, the toxin made by the bacteria kills fat cells under the skin, which leads to localised redness and swelling or the formation of a papule (raised area) or sometimes a nodule (lump), that can then break down as the infection progresses to form an ulcer.
Buruli ulcer is a zoonotic infection, that is, it is a disease spread from animals to humans. Australian research has shown that native possums are a major wildlife reservoir for M. ulcerans. Like humans, they can get Buruli ulcers, but they also shed the bacteria in the faecal material, in ‘possum poo’. Research teams have shown that in southeastern Australia, mosquitoes are spreading the infection from possums to humans.
A very informative and accessible web resource with information on Buruli ulcer diagnosis, treatment and prevention can be found here. This site is hosted and maintained by Professor Paul Johnson, the immediate past director of this collaborating centre.
Over the last few years Buruli ulcer cases have been increasing around Melbourne and Geelong. A link to the current epidemiological data collated by the Victorian Government Department of Health can be found here.
Useful resources about Buruli ulcer
Want to learn more about Buruli ulcer? The following resources are recommended by the Centre:
Victorian Government Department of Health website