A severe tissue-destroying ulcer once rare in Australia is rapidly spreading and is now at epidemic proportions in regions of Victoria, prompting infectious diseases experts to call for urgent research into how it is contracted and spread. In 2016, there were 182 new cases of the ulcer in Victoria – the highest ever reported by 72%, O’Brien said. Those with the infection often have no idea the infection has taken hold until the ulcer appears. Prof Paul Johnson is an internationally renowned Buruli ulcer expert and has been studying the infection since 1993. Johnson said that unlike malaria, which is rapidly spread by mosquitos, transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans appeared to be more inefficient.

Source: The Guardian April 15, 2018 18:00 UTC