Possum Poo Warning

[Overlandman]

From ABC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-10/r ... ia/5733056

People are being warned to avoid touching possum faeces because of the risk of being exposed to a bacteria linked to flesh-eating ulcers.

Infectious disease researchers at Victoria's Barwon Health have found that possums can carry the buruli bacteria, which can cause major skin ulcers in humans.

Barwon Health Associate Professor Daniel O'Brien said possum faeces is rich in the bacteria.

He told 774 ABC Melbourne there needs to be more research into whether contact with possum faeces is what causes buruli ulcers, also known as Bairnsdale ulcers, in humans.

"What we know in areas where we're getting infections and possums are infected is that their possum poo does carry a large amount of the organism," he said.

"What we do think is a good public health measure is to remove the possum faeces from the area as much as possible and wash your hands as much as you can after that to minimise potential exposures."

The infection starts as a painless or itchy pimple, which then breaks down to form an ulcer. If untreated, the ulcer can spread.

Professor O'Brien said although curable, the condition can be serious.

"The treatment is really quite difficult," he said.

The treatment is really quite difficult. It often involves a long period of antibiotics which can be difficult to take and often involves surgery.
Barwon Health Associate Professor Daniel O'Brien

"It often involves a long period of antibiotics which can be difficult to take and often involves surgery."

He said people have been infected in Victoria's Gippsland region and the Bellarine Peninsula, and most recently in the Mornington Peninsula.

No infected possums have been detected in metropolitan Melbourne.

Professor O'Brien said a better understand of the bacteria's transmission is needed.

"The most important thing for me is that we can prevent this infection, because at the moment we can treat it but we don't really know how to prevent it," he said.

"When you see young kids coming into the clinic with really nasty ulcers on their arm ... what we really need to do is stop them getting it in the first place."

[icefest]

Strange, we were just taking about this in class..

The earlier you get treatment, the less likely there'll permanent complications.

[MickyB]

This is probably a stupid question but for what reasons would people be touching possum faeces?

[GPSGuided]

The earlier you get treatment, the less likely there'll permanent complications.

Pretty logical.

Supposedly both possum and koala are carriers. As questioned earlier, can't see any logical reason to want to pick up poos with my bare hands. Guess it suggests that carrying a quantity of hand sanitiser and use it is important whilst in the bush.

[Hallu]

This is probably a stupid question but for what reasons would people be touching possum faeces?

Well, it's mainly for kids who will touch anything.

[Strider]

This is probably a stupid question but for what reasons would people be touching possum faeces?

Possum poo on roof....into tank water?

[GPSGuided]

Possum poo on roof....into tank water?

That's quite different to hand touching. And one would think dilution in the tank and additional treatment prior to use would significantly reduce the risks.

[GPSGuided]

Well, it's mainly for kids who will touch anything.

Personal childhood experience?

[north-north-west]

Purely from contact with undamaged skin?

[icefest]

In general the wounds associated with the bacteria tend to occur in the lower limb.

[Pteropus]

It appears that cases are limited to specific regions and there is no indication of how prevalent the bacteria is in a population. Wildlife rehabbers would be the group most likely to come into contact with animal faeces on a regular basis. I wonder what kind of advice wildlife groups are being given? Anyone on the forum a wildlife rehabber?

[GPSGuided]

In general the wounds associated with the bacteria tend to occur in the lower limb.

There are a lot of unknowns with this condition. Still, not handling faecal material is a good general advice.

[MickyB]

This is probably a stupid question but for what reasons would people be touching possum faeces?

Well, it's mainly for kids who will touch anything.

Wildlife rehabbers would be the group most likely to come into contact with animal faeces on a regular basis

Both logical reasons. Thanks. As I said it was probably a stupid question but I couldn't think of why people would be touching it.

[Bluegum Mic]

Yep. My kids try n touch it all the time as our resident possum poos on our trampoline all the time.

[MickyB]

our resident possum poos on our trampoline all the time.

Might be from the excitement from all of the bouncing

[walkerchris77]

The possums or the kids

[Bluegum Mic]

Ha. I'm picturing a fat little possum jumping merrily on my trampoline whilst we sleep. Whilst I'm sure it would enjoy it, its more likely from the over hanging branch and power lines above.

[GPSGuided]

Possum walk power lines?

[MickyB]

Ha. I'm picturing a fat little possum jumping merrily on my trampoline whilst we sleep. Whilst I'm sure it would enjoy it, its more likely from the over hanging branch and power lines above.

You wouldn't want to bounce too high on the trampoline if there's power lines above

Possum walk power lines?

They do. I often see possums walking on power lines at my parents house. Mainly ringtails.

[neilmny]

The brush tails do too. Recently one was trying to chomp it's way into my roof while standing on the power line into our house. They succeeded a while back and it took me months to get rid of them. There's nothing like a brushy stomping around your ceiling chasing any new arrivals at 3am. I, at the risk of being pumbelled, despise the b things. They crap and *&^%$#! all over the place around here and destroy the trees. Grrrr

[FootTrack]

This is probably a stupid question but for what reasons would people be touching possum faeces?

You could become infected whilst out walking too, for example, if you pitched your tent on some faeces and accidently touched it whilst rolling it back up again in the morning. Or if you had some on your shoe or laces and accidently brushed against it. Although I wouldn't voluntarily touch it myself, there are probably a lot of instances where I could unknowingly come into contact with it I would think...

[GPSGuided]

Out there camping, it's all "contaminated" and this mycobacterium would be the least of my concerns.

[johnnymacfnq]

Welcome to Australia. Our animals are so dangerous, even their poo will kill you.

[Eremophila]

Many dogs love eating possum poo.....