Overview

• Buruli ulcer cases in Victoria have reached 344 in 2024, with infections spreading beyond coastal areas to suburban Melbourne and new regions like Ascot Vale.
• The disease, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, leads to painless skin ulcers that can cause severe tissue damage if untreated, but it is not transmissible between humans.
• Health experts believe possums and mosquitoes play a key role in transmitting the bacteria, with possum excrement identified as a source of the pathogen.
• Preventive measures include using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding mosquito-prone areas, especially during warmer months when infection risk is higher.
• Batemans Bay in New South Wales has been flagged as a potential new hotspot, with researchers warning of possible further geographic spread in the state.