Which environmental factors were identified as influencing the occurrence of melioidosis, a bacterial infectious disease, in Odisha?

The correct answer is Rainfall, temperature, cloud cover, and solar radiation.

In News

• A study conducted by AIIMS Bhubaneswar and IIT Bhubaneswar has revealed that melioidosis in Odisha exhibits clear seasonality, with infections peaking during and after the monsoon season.

Key Points

• Melioidosis is a bacterial disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, found in soil and water.
• The study analyzed 144 cases over a nine-year period from 2015 to 2023 in Odisha.
• Environmental conditions such as rainfall, temperature, cloud cover, and solar radiation were identified as key factors influencing disease occurrence.
• High-risk districts in Odisha include Cuttack, Balasore, Khordha, and Jajpur, which also have dense populations.

Additional Information

• The study used meteorological data from 3,024 days to establish disease patterns.
• Melioidosis can manifest as skin infections, pneumonia, or septicemia, with a high fatality rate in severe cases.
• Public health experts recommend integrating climate analytics into disease prediction models for better outbreak preparedness.
• Climate change, through altering rainfall patterns and increasing extreme weather events, could expand the disease’s geographical spread.