Four people across the U.S. contracted a potentially fatal bacterial infection from contaminated essential oil sprays sold at Walmart, prompting a nationwide recall.
Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacterium behind melioidosis, spreads through air or skin contact and can be deadly. As reported by NBC News on October 23, 2021, infections struck four individuals in Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, and Texas.
This pathogen is typically found in contaminated soil and water in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. In the U.S., melioidosis cases number only about a dozen annually, usually among travelers. These patients, however, had no travel history outside the country. Alarmingly, two of the four—including one child—succumbed to the infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a thorough probe. Initial patient samples were inconclusive, but testing revealed the bacteria in a lavender essential oil spray used by the Georgia patient. Investigators confirmed the same product in all cases. Sold nationwide at 55 Walmart stores and online, the sprays were swiftly recalled after authorities notified the retailer.
Melioidosis manifests in acute, chronic, or latent forms. Acute types include peracute sepsis—with symptoms like respiratory failure, neurological issues, high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abscesses—and acute localized infections. Peracute sepsis often proves fatal without prompt treatment.
