A number of cases of the flesh-eating Buruli ulcer have now been detected on the New South Wales south coast.

There is growing evidence mosquitoes are at least partly responsible for the spread of this “flesh-eating” bacteria, with possums also implicated. Health authorities have urged locals to avoid mosquito bites.

Cases of Buruli ulcer are usually concentrated to parts of Victoria. So why is it being found in NSW? And how does a mozzie bite turn into a flesh-eating ulcer?

Here’s what we know about this bacteria, how it spreads, and how you can prevent and treat these ulcers.

It starts as a painless mozzie bite

The bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans is responsible for a skin infection known as Buruli ulcer.

It can take a long time after infection before the symptoms show. Over many months, what may first look like a small, painless mosquito bite develops into a disfiguring ulcer that, if left untreated, can continue increasing in size.

Treatment is readily available. This usually involves a six to eight week course of specific antibiotics, sometimes supported with surgery to remove the infected tissue. However, delays can make it more difficult to treat.

Where does it come from?

Buruli ulcer has been reported in more than 30 countries including in Africa, South........

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