Melioidosis surveillance

Last updated date: 3 May 2026

Melioidosis (melio) is a serious bacterial infection that occurs more commonly in northern Queensland, particularly during the wet season.

Queensland Health updates this melioidosis surveillance webpage each week during the wet season and has now moved to quarterly updates for the remainder of the year.

For the most up-to-date case numbers outside these reporting periods, users are encouraged to visit Queensland Health’s Notifable Conditions weekly and annual reporting websites.

During 2026 to date, 73 people were diagnosed with melioidosis in Queensland. There have been 7 deaths^ attributed to melioidosis so far this year.

An additional 10 cases notified to Queensland Health in 2026 were acquired in 2025 or earlier and are not included in this summary.

Among the 73 cases with an episode date* in 2026:

• 67 (92%) were residents of northern Queensland Hospital and Health Services (Torres and Cape, Cairns and Hinterland, North West, Townsville or Mackay)
• 58 (79%) were aged 50 years or older
• 51 (70%) were male
• 28 (38%) were First Nations peoples
• 70 (96%) were in people most vulnerable to melioidosis infection – including people aged 50 years and over, people with long-term health conditions (such as diabetes, cancer, chronic lung and kidney disease), or people who drink alcohol heavily
• 73 (100%) were admitted to hospital.

Figure 1. Weekly number of melioidosis cases by episode date*, Queensland, 01 January to 3 May 2026

Figure 2. Number of melioidosis cases with an episode date* between 01 January and 3 May 2026, by Hospital and Health Service (HHS) and Local Government Area (LGA) of residence^#

Background and additional information

• In 2025, a total of 261 melioidosis cases and 37 deaths were recorded in Queensland. Most cases were associated with outbreaks in the Cairns and Hinterland HHS and the Townsville HHS regions in early 2025. Prior to 2025, the five-year annual mean (2020–2024) was 85 cases.
• A further breakdown of cases by Public Health Unit (PHU) or HHS is available on our Notifiable Conditions weekly and annual reporting websites.
• A melioidosis fact sheet is available, providing further information on signs, symptoms, treatment, transmission and prevention.
• Primary Care clinicians are encouraged to access their local HealthPathways platform for clinical guidance.
• *Episode date is the earliest of either symptom onset (determined during case interview) or specimen collection date when symptom onset date is unknown.
• ^#Cases are reported by their place of residence, but they may have acquired the infection elsewhere, within Queensland, interstate or overseas.
• ^Death data are provisional based on information recorded on the Queensland Notifiable Conditions Register, where melioidosis was considered to have caused or contributed to death in a confirmed case. For the official cause of death data, please refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.