Melioidosis is a bacterial infection that is caused by bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei.People and animals, such as sheep, goats, pigs, horses, cows, dogs, and cats, can become infected with melioidosis. It is spread through contact with contaminated soil, air, or water.Cases of melioidosis may increase after hurricanes, heavy rain, and other severe weather events because the bacteria rise to the surface of the soil. It is mostly found in tropical areas but was found in the environment along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi in 2022. In the United States, most melioidosis cases occur in people who have traveled to areas where the disease is more common.
