Urgent health warning for pet owners over deadly disease on the rise

Health experts in Australia are growing increasingly concerned a fatal, soil-borne disease could be on the rise among people and their pets. 
At least 28 Queenslanders have died after being infected by tropical disease melioidosis so far this year, with 211 cases recorded across the state.
The number of people suffering from the disease, caused by bacteria lurking in mud and dirty water, has seen a significant increase this year compared to previous years.
Most cases and deaths occurred in the Cairns Hinterland and Townsville regions, Queensland Health confirmed to Daily Mail Australia Saturday. 
Both areas have recently been heavily impacted by severe weather. 
Concerns have also been raised that the disease, which can infect a wide range of animals, could be spreading to livestock and household pets. 
Cat owner and university student Tiara Richardson-Steele sounded the alarm when her two-year-old tabby kitten, Milo, was diagnosed with melioidosis this month.
'I'm reaching out with a heavy heart and a lot of hope,' she wrote on a GoFundMe page, raising funds for vet and animal hospital bills.
'My sweet 2-year-old tabby kitten, Milo, has just been diagnosed with melioidosis a rare and life-threatening bacterial infection. 
'I'm not ready to give up on him and Milo isn't either. He's a fighter, and I want to give him every chance to grow up, play, and live the happy life he deserves.' 
The fatal and infectious tropical disease, commonly detected in northern Australia, is caused by bacteria which lives in water or soil that has been disturbed.
It is seasonal in nature, with cases often occurring during wet season when there has been heavy rain or flooding, such as that seen across Queensland during autumn.
The disease was first recorded in Australia during an outbreak among sheep in 1949 in Winton, northern Queensland. 
Both humans and animals have recorded cases of the fatal disease.
People affected may have been exposed to the disease through breaks or wounds in the skin and sometimes by inhaling or swallowing contaminated water.
A wide range of animals can be infected, but commonly it is found among sheep, goats and pigs, the Western Australian government has noted.
Melioidosis is not contagious, the Merck Veterinary Manual reported, but it does have 'zoonotic potential'. 
This means animal-to-human transmission and animal-to-animal transmission of the bacteria has occurred after exposure to a contaminated environment.
In humans, the bacteria usually doesn't cause symptoms but in severe cases, it can trigger potentially deadly pneumonia and sepsis.
This is the body's overreaction to an infection that causes the immune system to attack healthy organs. 
People most at risk of becoming sick include those with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, chronic lung and kidney diseases, and people who drink alcohol heavily.
For animals, the signs of melioidosis can vary depending on species, with WA government listing what to look out for among livestock.
Generally it can include depression, fever, weight loss, heavy breathing or sneezing, lameness and swelling of the joints, and potentially death. 
Queensland Government issued a warning in January saying, 'if you don't have to go into murky water - don't!'
It also advised for people to take precautions if working in potentially hazardous soil environments.
This includes wearing protective clothing to prevent scrapes and wounds to the skin, washing hands regularly, cleaning and covering cuts, and avoiding water sitting in work areas.
Anyone concerned about their risk of melioidosis should consult their general medical practitioner or contact their local public health unit. 
Pets need to receive medical attention as soon as possible, with James Cook University's Dr Philip Judge warning melioidosis is often fatal in animals if untreated.
'If your pet shows unusual symptoms such as persistent coughing, weakness, or sudden behavioural changes, it's crucial to consult a vet quickly,' he told 7News.
Many pets with skin infections can make a full recovery but if it enters the brain or spreads through the body, it is often fatal.
'Relapse remains a major concern, and long-term follow-up is crucial for ensuring successful eradication of the infection,' Dr Judge said.