There has been an outbreak of Bairnsdale ulcer (also known as Buruli
ulcer) infection at Phillip Island, Victoria Australia. The uclers are
casued by the environmental mycobacterium M. ulcerans. We think the
source of the infection was a recycled sewerage water irrigation system
used by the local golf course. (The evidence is circumstantial but very
strong--see the letter in Medical Journal of Australia 1995;162(4):221).
We are interested in hearing about any similar reports, and recommend
surveillance for this infection where recycled water projects are
operating.
Paul Johnson
pdrjoh at netspace.net.au
