As per a report being published in the Medical Journal of Australia, it has been revealed that the soil-borne bacteria has been causing a lot of problems among Northern Territory Aboriginal communities. The disease has been causing several deaths and in 2009-10, there were 91 people, who were diagnosed with the infection and 11 people lost their life.
There can be many reasons for such a rise in the number of infection cases. Professor Bart Currie from the Menzies School of Health Research was of the view that rainfall is the main contributor in increasing the number of infection cases.
"The most important factor is the unprecedented rainfall that occurred in the Darwin region, in particular during that 12 month period, indeed the year following it was also a very heavy wet season”, he further affirmed.
The people are diabetic and heavy drinkers are said to be at high risk of contracting melioidosis, said Currie. He further affirmed that people, who move from remote places, are also at high risk of being diagnosed with melioidosis as their immunity level is quite weak.
In addition, an Anglican bishop said that his community is not happy with the intervention of the federal government in the Northern Territory. Greg Thompson, who is an Anglican Bishop of the Northern Territory, criticized the government for forcing its will on Aborigines.
He further affirmed that the government has remained unsuccessful in implanting laws in the community. But now they do not want that the government should interfere in their working style. Aboriginal leader Bess Nungarrayi Price also supported Thompson and said that the government is not aware of the community, so it is quite difficult for them to take right decision for the community.