Buruli ulcers: mozzies and possums may spread it, but prevention and treatment work
New South Wales cases of Buruli ulcer are linked to the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans carried by local mosquitoes (notably Aedes notoscriptus) and possums. Genomic data suggest distinct strains and a pattern of spread from Victoria to NSW, with outbreaks slowly emerging in new areas. There is no vaccine, so prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating standing water and other breeding sites. Treatment is usually a six-to-eight week course of antibiotics, sometimes with surgery, and early treatment improves outcomes; monitoring possum waste may help track new activity.