TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Post Typhoon Gaemi, 11 cases of melioidosis have been reported in Taiwan, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Tuesday (Aug. 6). 

All cases of the bacterial infection were reported in southern Taiwan, including eight in Kaohsiung, two in Tainan, and one in Chiayi, per CNA. Three of the individuals are in the intensive care unit, the CDC said. 

CDC spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said Taiwan has seen an increase in melioidosis cases after typhoons in the past. The peak period of diagnosis for the infectious disease often occurs two to four weeks after a typhoon passes. 

So far this year, 18 melioidosis cases have been reported in Taiwan, the highest for the same period in five years, according to the CDC. Lo expects new cases to be reported next week, continuing until late August.

Lin Yong-qing (林詠青), an epidemic prevention physician at the CDC, said the main infection routes of the bacterium are through skin contact with contaminated soil or water sources, and ingestion or inhalation of contaminated dust. Melioidosis outbreaks often occur after typhoons because strong rains can flush the bacteria from soil or strong winds can disperse it into the air, Lin said. 

Symptoms of melioidosis include fever, headache, skin ulcers, and chest pain. Lin said patients with diabetes, liver disease, cancer, immune deficiency, and excessive drinking disorders are at higher risk. Severe cases may result in pneumonia, encephalitis, and sepsis, with a 40%-75% fatality rate.

The newly infected individuals range in age from 30 to 80, and among them, 10 have had a history of chronic diseases. The three individuals in intensive care include a man in his 40s from Chiayi County, a woman in her 70s from Tainan, and a man in his 70s from Kaohsiung. 

In 2005, after Typhoon Haitang and Typhoon Talim, 42 cases of melioidosis were reported, concentrated in the Erren River Basin at the junction of Tainan and Kaohsiung. 

Immediate medical treatment can significantly reduce the risk of death from melioidosis. The CDC urged individuals to seek medical treatment as soon as possible if they discover any of the above symptoms.