The Maternity Hospital in the central province of Nghe An on September 15 announced three children have been infected with Melioidosis, also called Whitmore’s disease caused by bacterium Burkholderia pseudomalle.

The three children were rushed to the infirmary while they had a serious abscess in ear drum’s salivary gland.

The first child, 14-year-old Nghiem Thanh T., in Duc Tho District of Ha Tinh Province was discharged after 50 days of treatment. At this time , the infirmary’s Ear-Nose-Throat Department is providing treatment on 10-year-old Hoang Van C. in Thanh Chuong District and 11-year-old Nguyen Cong H in Yen Thanh District of Nghe An.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Huyen Ngan of the Department of Ear-Nose-Throat said that Melioidosis, also called Whitmore’s disease, caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, is an infectious disease that can infect humans or animals. If the disease is improperly treated, the death rate could be more than 50 percent.

Cases of Whitmore's disease have increased remarkably during the rainy season with a high rate of mortality; accordingly, medical workers warned people to wear protective clothing when working in soil and water.

So far, there has been no vaccine against bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Hence, people should have protective measures.