Flesh-eating bacteria spreads to Melbourne suburbs as summer heat looms
A rare flesh-eating bacterial infection is spreading to unexpected areas, with 426 cases reported in Victoria in 2025, including Melbourne's inner suburbs.
Buruli ulcer is a skin infection from the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans. Buruli ulcer starts as a painless bump after a mosquito bite, then becomes a disfiguring ulcer over weeks.
If left untreated, it destroys skin and muscle. Victoria has been hit hardest with 426 cases in 2025 alone.
Cases mostly came from coastal regions, but inner north-west suburbs such as Essendon, Brunswick West and Moonee Ponds have now reported cases. The bacteria spreads through the Australian backyard mosquito, which breeds in water containers around homes.
NSW has recorded six cases on the south coast since the disease became notifiable there. An eight-week course of antibiotics can treat the ulcer, though healing can take more than four months.
Why it mattersAs El Niño is expected to bring an early start to summer heat, mosquitoes will arrive sooner, increasing the risk of infection spreading beyond known hotspots.
AustraliaAustralians, especially in Victoria and NSW, need to prevent mosquito bites in their backyards by removing standing water and using repellent, as the infection is now appearing in suburban areas where cases were previously rare.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 51 min ago
