Soil bacteria may have killed six in the south

[dArKeR]

Health authorities are looking into possible links between soil bacteria and the deaths of at least six people in southern Taiwan, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.
Over the past two weeks, 16 people have entered hospitals near Tainan and Kaohsiung cities suffering from fever and frequent vomiting. Six have died, the CDC said.

Fourteen of the patients lived near the Erhjen Creek (???), which separates western Tainan and Kaohsiung counties, a CDC official told reporters.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/07/31/2003265777

[dArKeR]

1. Seventh person dies from melioidosis, officials say

One more melioidosis patient died in southern Taiwan yesterday, bringing the death toll to seven with three remained in intensive care units and nine others in hospital after contracting the disease in the wake of a recent typhoon and flooding, the Department of Health said.
Between July 11 and July 31, a total of 19 cases were reported, compared with 22 since early this year.

Also known as Whitmore's disease, melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by the burkholderia pseudomallei bacterium. The bacterium is usually found in contaminated water or soil and is spread to humans and animals through direct contact.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/08/01/2003265946