摘要：During the six-year period from 1995 to 2000, 23 cases of melioidosis were diagnosed from the TorresStrait islands that lie between northern Queensland and Papua New Guinea. This represents an averageannual incidence of 42.7 per 100,000 population, the highest documented to date in this region. Thisprobably reflects the extremely high prevalence of diabetes, the high seasonal rainfall in the area, andthe lifestyle of Torres Strait Islanders. The majority of patients (20 out of 23) acquired their disease in oneof the more remote outer island indigenous communities. Most patients presented with a community-acquired pneumonia or with deep seated abscesses. One patient presented with the first case ofsuppurative parotitis due to melioidosis recorded in Australia. Diabetes was the overwhelming risk factor,being present in over three-quarters of all cases. Five patients (22%) died. Strategies to try to minimiseillness and death due to melioidosis in the Torres Strait are discussed
