Australia Weather News

The rare but dangerous soil-borne disease melioidosis has claimed another life in North Queensland and several other patients remain in intensive care.

The overnight death was the sixth in the Townsville region this year and the fourth in the wake of flooding rain this month.

Further north in the Cairns area nine people have died this year during an "unprecedented" spike in cases.

The tropical disease is caused by bacteria in soil and mud and is often stirred up by periods of heavy rain.

Townsville Public Health Unit director Steven Donohue said about a dozen patients were still in hospital, some of whom were in the intensive care unit.

"It is almost expected that a good proportion of these elderly and sick people who get melioidosis don't survive," he said.

Older people and those with existing health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease or cancer are at the highest risk of falling ill.

Dr Donohue said people who inhaled the bacteria could fall ill with pneumonia within days but others could take several weeks to get sick.

He said melioidosis often led to a prolonged hospital stay.

More than 90 cases of melioidosis have been recorded in Queensland so far this year.

Dr Donohue said he expected case numbers to taper off as conditions dried up.

"We certainly don't want people to avoid going outside — they need exercise, they need recreation, they need to enjoy their garden," he said.

"So we're encouraging people to sensibly go back to normal activity.

"But of course, if you are digging around in the dirt or if you're spraying mud, it's really important to take those precautions: gloves, boots, and if there's stuff in the air, wearing a mask — particularly for vulnerable people."