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Diseases » Melioidosis » Contagiousness

Is Melioidosis Contagious?

Contents

Discussion about contagion of Melioidosis
About contagion and contagiousness of Melioidosis
Melioidosis: Introduction

Contagion summary:

Not contagious.

Contagion summary:

Melioidosis can spread from person to person by contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person. Two documented cases of male-to-female sexual transmission involved males with chronic prostatic infection due to melioidosis. (Source: excerpt from Melioidosis: DBMD)

Discussion about Contagion of Melioidosis:

Besides humans, many animal species are susceptible to melioidosis. These include sheep, goats, horses, swine, cattle, dogs, and cats. Transmission occurs by direct contact with contaminated soil and surface waters. In Southeast Asia, the organism has been repeatedly isolated from agriculture fields, with infection occurring primarily during the rainy season. Humans and animals are believed to acquire the infection by inhalation of dust, ingestion of contaminated water, and contact with contaminated soil especially through skin abrasions, and for military troops, by contamination of war wounds. Person-to-person transmission can occur. There is one report of transmission to a sister with diabetes who was the caretaker for her brother who had chronic melioidosis. Two cases of sexual transmission have been reported. Transmission in both cases was preceded by a clinical history of chronic prostatitis in the source patient. (Source: excerpt from Melioidosis: DBMD)

About contagion and contagiousness:

Contagion and contagiousness refers to how easily the spread of Melioidosis is possible from one person to another. Other words for contagion include "infection", "infectiousness", "transmission" or "transmissability". Contagiousness has nothing to do with genetics or inheriting diseases from parents. For an overview of contagion, see Introduction to Contagion.