Cairns Woman Warns After Third Melioidosis Infection

A Cairns woman who has survived three separate infections of the deadly tropical disease melioidosis is urging Queenslanders to take the threat seriously after her most recent bout left her fighting for life when the infection spread to her brain.

Lorrae Godfrey, a resident of Cairns in far north Queensland, contracted melioidosis for the third time in early 2026, with the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei invading her central nervous system and triggering a severe neurological infection that nearly proved fatal.

Melioidosis, often referred to as Whitmore’s disease, is caused by bacteria found in contaminated soil and water, particularly prevalent in tropical regions like northern Australia during the wet season. The disease typically enters the body through cuts or abrasions in the skin, inhalation of dust or water droplets, or, less commonly, ingestion of contaminated water.

Godfrey’s experience underscores the disease’s potential to escalate rapidly, especially when it reaches the brain, a complication known as neuro-melioidosis, which carries a significantly higher mortality rate. Health officials note that while melioidosis is treatable with prolonged courses of specific antibiotics, delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and death.

In her warning to the public, Godfrey emphasized that the disease is not limited to high-risk occupations or environments, stating that everyday activities such as gardening or exposure to floodwaters can pose a danger, particularly after heavy rainfall when the bacteria are more likely to be mobilized in soil and surface water.