Hosted by the US EPA
Melioidosis is a disease that is considered rare in the United States, typically associated with travel where the bacterium occurs naturally. In October 2021, several cases of melioidosis appeared in the United States that were later linked by CDC to an aromatherapy spray sold in retail stores. EPA assisted CDC in developing guidance on cleaning and disinfection of household surfaces and items for those that purchased and used the contaminated spray. It was discovered that one family who purchased and used the product had a pet exposed to the contaminated spray after breaking the bottle. The pet later died and was buried in the yard of the family home. EPA provided support to the CDC and the state of Texas to mitigate any residual risk from contaminated soil and the property that may have been caused by burying the pet.
This webinar will present research developed by EPA on decontaminating B. pseudomallei, the bacterium causing melioidosis. It will discuss how the research was used to develop sampling and remediation plans for the property and what the implementation of those plans looked like.