Death of two Americans by melioidosis – the ‘Vietnamese time bomb’ disease – linked to Indian aromatherapy spray sold in Walmart
- Bacterium that causes the obscure disease melioidosis was found in the aromatherapy spray of one of the victims
- Burkholderia pseudomallei, usually found in people working in South Asian paddy fields, is so powerful it is considered to have potential as a bioweapon
The first infections of burkholderia pseudomallei were detected on August 9 by a laboratory of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in America. Technicians found it in the aromatherapy spray used in the home of a person in Georgia who became ill in July and later died of melioidosis, also known as Whitmore’s disease.
The rare disease, which usually afflicts people working in South Asian paddy fields or in coastal areas during the monsoon in India, gained notoriety during the Vietnam war for its ability to strike down veterans long after their return. The bacterium that causes it is also sometimes known as “the great mimicker” for its tendency to be mistaken for other infections, and it is so powerful it is considered to have potential as a bioweapon.
The spray in question was called “Essential Oil infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones”. It was made by Flora Classique (registered in California) in India and sold in 55 Walmart stores. Walmart has since removed the spray, along with several other scents made by Flora Classique.
