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(Reuters) – A person in the U.S. state of Georgia has died from an outbreak of melioidosis infection in several states likely linked to imported products, health officials said on Monday.
A total of four people have been infected, one in Georgia, Kansas, Texas and Minnesota, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Genome testing has shown that the bacterial strains that sickened patients closely resemble each other, suggesting that there is a common source for these cases, the public health agency added.
Patients included both adults and children.
Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is mainly a disease of tropical climates, especially Northeast Asia and northern Austria.
The CDC believes the most likely cause is an imported product (such as a food or drink, personal care or cleaning products, or a drug) or an ingredient in any of these types of products.
(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; editing by Shailesh Kuber)
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