Mysterious flesh eating bug that cause gangrenous open wounds spreads in Australia - and doctors have no idea what causes it

  • A flesh-eating ulcer from Victoria is spreading across Australia
  • Doctors do not know how the gruesome flesh-eating virus is caused
  • It is thought to be spread by mosquitos but the origin is unclear
  • It eats away at the flesh, muscles, nerves and bones of humans
  • WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT 

By BELINDA CLEARY and BELINDA GRANT GEARY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

A mysterious flesh-eating virus is spreading throughout Australia - and doctors have no idea where it comes from or what causes it.

The Bairnsdale virus, also known as the buruli ulcer is a gruesome flesh-eating bacteria which devours flesh, fat, tendons, nerves and extreme cases even bone.

The virus has been in Victoria for decades with 45 cases already recorded this year - but it could soon move to New South Wales. 

The Bairnsdale virus is a flesh eating bug which has been spreading through Australia

The Bairnsdale virus is a flesh eating bug which has been spreading through Australia

The virus is thought to be spread by mosquitoes and appears like a bite at first 

The virus is thought to be spread by mosquitoes and appears like a bite at first 

 Austin Health infectious diseases physician and medical researcher Professor Paul Johnson doesn't understand why residents in NSW have not yet been hit.

'There's been some cases near the Victorian border and it could creep up from there,' he said.

Bairnsdale ulcer hotspots in Australia include Darwin, and areas in northern Queensland - but as far down as Yeppoon and Western Australia.

'Queensland may have none of very few cases but every now and then there will be an outbreak, likely occurring in the Mossman area,' Prof Johnson said.  

Melbourne suburbs including Bentleigh, Hampton and Cheltenham, southeast of the CBD are all hotspots.

Experts aren't sure if the disease is transferred from possums to mosquitos and then humans or if possums are also another victim. 

After about four months the wounds erupt showing a savage wound where flesh had been destroyed under the skin's surface

After about four months the wounds erupt showing a savage wound where flesh had been destroyed under the skin's surface

What is clear is those who fall ill are usually healthy and strong.

The ulcer will often appear around four months after the person has been bitten - and usually occur on the elbows, back, calf and ankles.

Climber Jan Smith, from Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, was left with a gangrenous open wound on her left ankle after contracting mycobacterium, known as Buruli ulcers, from a mosquito bite while gardening in early April.

The virus could spread to New South Wales, experts say, as it is close to the state border

The virus could spread to New South Wales, experts say, as it is close to the state border

The 72-year-old mother-of-three went to the hospital when she could no longer 'tolerate' the crippling pain but was misdiagnosed and the bacteria continued to eat away at her flesh, fat, tendons and nerves around her ankle for another month.

'The bacteria suppresses your immune system and also emits a toxin and makes gangrene which starts to kill the tissue,' she told Daily Mail Australia.  

'You think it is a scab healing the wound but it is hiding gangrenous, dying tissue underneath.'

The virus is also found in the Northern Territory and parts of northern Queensland

The virus is also found in the Northern Territory and parts of northern Queensland

Dr Smith said she thought she had been bitten by a bull ant when she noticed her ankle swelling.

When her ankle continued to grow he took an antihistamine to try and control the pain and swelling so she could continue training, gardening and running.

After initially being misdiagnosed Ms Smith came to realise she had a Bairnsdale ulcer. 

 

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