The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei has been detected in the soil of the Gulf Coast.

For a long time, it was believed that the causative agent of melioidosis was found primarily in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. However, recent studies have confirmed that this bacterium has become endemic to parts of the southern United States. Specifically, the presence of the microorganism in soil and water has been officially recorded in a coastal county in Mississippi. The bacterium is likely also widespread in Georgia and Texas.

For agricultural workers whose activities involve constant contact with the soil, it is important to understand the transmission routes of the infection. Infection occurs through direct contact of damaged skin with contaminated soil or water, inhalation of dust, or consumption of contaminated products. Although the risk to healthy people is low, individuals with diabetes, kidney, lung, or liver disease, or a weakened immune system are at increased risk.

Professional activities such as gardening, farming, construction work, and flood cleanup inevitably require working with soil. In this regard, the CDC recommends following protective measures. It is necessary to wear footwear that covers the feet and shins to prevent infection through skin abrasions. Particular caution should be exercised after heavy rains and hurricanes, when the concentration of bacteria in the top layers of soil increases. Individuals in high-risk groups are advised to avoid direct contact with soil and standing water whenever possible.

Diagnosing the disease is difficult because symptoms — fever, cough, muscle and joint pain, abscesses — are characteristic of many common infections. If a worker who has had contact with soil or floodwaters shows signs of illness, it is crucial to inform medical professionals about the fact of such exposure. This is necessary for conducting specific laboratory tests. Treatment for melioidosis requires a long course of antibiotic therapy, as the bacterium is resistant to many standard drugs, making an accurate and timely diagnosis critically important.