| Status: Active
Date issued: 20 April 2018 (update to advisory of 30 November 2016)
Issued by: Dr Brett Sutton, Acting Chief Health Officer, Victoria
Issued to: Health professionals
Key messages
- Buruli ulcer, caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is a growing concern in Victoria, with a steady increase in notifications since 2015, in people who have travelled to or live in endemic areas.
- Early diagnosis is critical to prevent skin and tissue loss – consider the diagnosis in patients with a persistent ulcer, nodule, papule, or oedema and cellulitis especially on exposed parts of the body.
- Follow the guidance in this Advisory on testing, making sure to take a dedicated swab reserved for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for the infection.
- People of any age can get infected, and symptoms can occur four weeks to nine months after exposure to any endemic area; however there are very different levels of risk associated with the parts of Victoria that are endemic.
- Buruli ulcer is a Group B disease and must be notified to the Department within five days of diagnosis.
Read the full alert: Increased incidence of Buruli ulcer in Victoria
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
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