Child Melioidosis Deaths Caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei-Contaminated Borehole Water, Vietnam, 2019

Abstract

Within 8 months, 3 children from 1 family in northern Vietnam died from melioidosis. Burkholderia pseudomallei of the same sequence type, 541, was isolated from clinical samples, borehole water, and garden and rice field soil. Boreholes should be properly constructed and maintained to avoid B. pseudomallei contamination.

Keywords: Burkholderia pseudomallei; Vietnam; bacteria; bore water; borehole construction; borehole maintenance; melioidosis; waterborne diseases.

Figure 1

Environmental sampling sites in an investigation of 3 child deaths from melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei–contaminated borehole water, Vietnam, 2019. The satellite map was created using QGIS software version 3.22.1 (https://www.qgis.org). Red outline indicates the family property where the children lived; red circle is borehole A from which B. pseudomallei was isolated. Yellow outlines are rice fields from which soil samples were collected; red stars indicate rice fields that tested positive for B. pseudomallei. Yellow circles indicate neighbors’ boreholes and yellow squares indicate neighbors’ ponds from which water samples were collected. Inset map shows Vietnam; red square indicates sampling area.

Figure 2

Borehole involved in 3 child melioidosis deaths caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei–contaminated borehole water, Vietnam, 2019. A) View of area around borehole. The bore cap is ≈80 cm below the soil surface inside the masonry area. Red arrow indicates cracks in the masonry construction that might enable rainwater and soil particles to drain into the borehole area. B) View from above the borehole. Red arrow indicates the unsealed, opened gap around the borehole, which likely enabled rainwater and soil particles to drain into the groundwater during the rainy season.