Five more people died of melioidosis, which brings the death toll of the bacteria in the north of Queensland to 12 to 12 years.
The threat of the infection-causing bacteria is lurking in the mud and dirty water left behind due to the floods of February.
The Cairns and Hinterland Health Service confirmed on Tuesday that five more people died of the disease.
Cairns has registered a total of 53 cases this year, while Townsville 34 has had.
The disease can be in the air during heavy rain, so that tropical public health services are urged to encourage residents to protect themselves against infection.
The most risky Queenslanders are older people with diabetes, kidney problems and other chronic diseases such as lung diseases or heavy alcohol users.
Soil bacteria rise to the surface in muddy water during rain and people breathe in or it comes into the body through a break in the skin.
Symptoms range from fever, pneumonia, exhaustion, vomiting, abdominal pains or chest pressure.
The threat of the infection-causing bacteria is lurking in the mud and dirty water left by the floods of February
The Cairns and Hinterland Health Service confirmed on Tuesday that five more people died of Melioidosis
Jacqueline Murdoch from Tropical Public Health Services said that the region had never had so many cases.
“It's definitely a record year,” she said the ABC.
“We certainly didn't see something like that.
'It is a very serious disease and it has a fairly high deadness, so we now have a large number of deaths, which reflects the large number of cases.
'Certainly, the climate has something to do with it. We had such a large rainy season last year – that can probably be contributed to the high numbers. '
Dr. Murdoch said that everyone with a cough or difficulty with breathing should visit their doctor.
“It is a very serious illness and it can progress very quickly.”
She also warned Queenslanders to be careful to be outside in heavy rain and to have contact with the ground, and said that everyone who uses a high -pressure hose should wear a mask.
