Melioidosis in the UK-what an occupational physician should know.

Abstract

Melioidosis, also known as Whitmore's disease, is a bacterial infection caused by the Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is increasing in prevalence in the UK due to global mobility levels and emigration to/from Australia, coupled with the long incubation period of the disease. It is primarily found in soil and water, particularly in tropical regions like Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. This editorial looks at what an Occupational Physician should know for their clinical practice.