Death toll from tropical disease in Australia rises to 12

SYDNEY -- The number of deaths from a disease linked to heavy rainfall and flooding in northeast of Australia's state of Queensland has more than doubled to 12, local health authorities said.

Health authorities in the tropical north coast region of Queensland confirmed on Tuesday that the death toll from melioidosis in the current wet season has risen to 12, up from five deaths that had been reported as of Feb 21.

Of the 12 deaths, nine occurred in and around Cairns, the largest city in the region, and three in the city of Townsville, almost 300 km south.

Melioidosis is a rare tropical disease caused by bacteria commonly found in soil and water in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. After heavy rainfall it becomes airborne.

Queensland's tropical northern coast was hit by widespread damaging flooding earlier in February, with many towns recording record rainfall for the month in a matter of days.

There have been 53 confirmed cases of melioidosis in Carins and 34 cases in Townsville since the start of 2025, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing Jacqueline Murdoch, director of the Tropical Public Health Services.

"It absolutely is a record-breaking year. Certainly we haven't seen anything like this and the numbers are very alarming," said Murdoch on Tuesday.

"It's a very severe disease and it has a reasonably high fatality rate, so we do have a large number of deaths now, which is reflecting the large number of cases."

She said that most of the patients were older people and that the majority had contracted the disease through the air.

Murdoch urged people to be careful about being outside in heavy rain, being in contact with soil and to wear a mask when using a high-pressure hose.

Anyone with a cough or difficulty breathing has been advised to visit their doctor or nearest emergency department.