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Amongst other changes, climate change is turbo charging mosquito-borne diseases. In Victoria, on the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, and in the northern suburbs where I live, there is a steady rise in Buruli ulcers, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, related to leprosy and TB. It also occurs in other parts of Australia, known as Daintree or Bairnsdale ulcer. Treatment is 8 weeks of strong antibiotics, but full recovery takes 6-9 months.

In Victoria, Buruli is caused by the dual vectors of mosquitoes and possums. Mosquitoes get Buruli by biting infected possums, and from breeding in water containing scats from infected possums. Scats are also dropped into garden soil where mycobacteria stays active, for an unknown period. So for gardeners, Buruli can be caught from mosquito bites, and from affected soil getting into broken skin. Often ulcers develop 5-6 months after exposure, so they commonly develop in winter-spring, after last summer’s bites or garden time. Infected possums can be seen around my area, with tell-tale ulcers, and I sometimes find dead ones on the ground.

So, when in Buruli hotspots, please take extra care. Avoid being outside at dusk, wear long sleeves and pants if possible and use insect repellent. Wear gloves when gardening to keep soil out of broken skin and use antiseptic and Band-Aids on cuts. Wear gloves if handling dead possums if you find them and don’t attempt to handle sick possums. If you have an ulcer or mosquito bite that won’t heal, ask for a Buruli swab at your GP.