Sydney, Feb. 26 -- The number of deaths from a disease linked to heavy rainfall and flooding in northeast of Australia's state of Queensland has more than doubled to 12, local health authorities said.
Health authorities in the tropical north coast region of Queensland confirmed on Tuesday that the death toll from melioidosis in the current wet season has risen to 12, up from five deaths that had been reported as of Feb. 21.
Of the 12 deaths, nine occurred in and around Cairns, the largest city in the region, and three in the city of Townsville, almost 300 km south.
Melioidosis is a rare tropical disease caused by bacteria commonly found in soil and water in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. After heavy rainfall, it becomes airbor...