Gia Lai Provincial General Hospital in Pleiku Ward said on May 1 it was treating a patient infected with Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacterium that causes Whitmore disease.
According to the provincial Centre for Disease Control, the patient, born in 1987 and living in Ia Dom Commune, developed symptoms including fever, body aches, dry mouth and loss of appetite. She was admitted to hospital on April 19 in a drowsy condition, with heavy sweating and rapid breathing.
Tests confirmed infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei. The patient also has diabetes, a significant risk factor that can worsen the disease.
Doctors have provided intensive treatment and close monitoring. The patient has been taken off a ventilator for two days and remains under care in the intensive care and toxicology unit.
Hospital officials said Whitmore disease, sometimes referred to as “flesh eating bacteria” infection, is rare but serious. This is the first case recorded in Gia Lai in 2026.
Authorities disinfect areas the patient frequently visited and worked in (Photo: Dung Dung).
Following detection, health authorities launched an epidemiological investigation in areas where the patient lived and worked, while also informing local residents about prevention and early symptoms. No additional suspected cases have been identified so far.
Doctor Bui Truong Giang of Hung Vuong Gia Lai Hospital said Whitmore is a dangerous infectious disease affecting both humans and animals. The bacteria are commonly found in soil and water and typically enter the body through skin contact.
He said the disease can take multiple forms, is difficult to diagnose and carries a high fatality rate if it progresses to severe pneumonia or sepsis.
“This bacterium can cause tissue damage and necrosis. On the skin, it may lead to ulcers or abscesses,” he said, adding that the fatality rate can range from 40 to 60 per cent in severe cases.
