A mysterious tropical disease outbreak, typically found in Southeast Asia, recently emerged in the United States, worrying health officials. After research, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that the outbreak could be linked to a rare bacteria found in an aromatherapy air freshener sold at Walmart and now recalled.
The CDC reported that three people in three states (Texas, Kansas, and Minnesota) were diagnosed with melioidosis in late July 2021. A fourth case was later reported in Georgia. Two of the four patients died.
The symptoms of the disease are relatively vague, non-specific, and can vary depending on the part of the body that is infected. Infection in the lungs can cause coughing, chest pain, high fever and headache, whereas in a bloodstream infection the symptoms are similar but often include joint pain and disorientation.
The epidemic is considered unusual, as the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei is the cause of the disease, typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, namely parts of Asia and northern Australia, as well as South and Central America. The fact that human-to-human transmission of the disease was also rare and that none of the patients had left the country recently made the situation even more extraordinary.
To understand the source of the infection, researchers from the CDC took samples from patients and their homes. Unexpectedly, a sample of the aromatherapy spray sold at Walmart tested positive for the rare B. pseudomallei bacteria.
The spray in question was “A Lavender and Chamomile Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Gemstone Air Freshener” produced by Better Homes & Gardens. The aromatherapy spray was manufactured in India, which may explain how the pathogen reached the United States. Also, the genetic trace of the bacteria that made the four patients sick was similar to that of the bacterial strains commonly found in South Asia. The CDC is still investigating the source of the other three infections, but specifically trying to find out if these three patients were also using this or similar products.
All 3,900 bottles of the Better Homes & Gardens spray have been recalled from Walmart, and customers who purchase the product will receive a $20 gift card, according to U.S. Consumer Safety Products. From February 2021 to October 2021, the aromatherapy air freshener was on sale in about 55 Walmart stores nationwide and online for about $4.
The CDC has told people who have this aromatherapy spray in their homes to stop using it immediately. It also posted instructions on how to dispose of it. They should not be thrown into the regular trash can, instead the bottles should be double bagged in clear zip-top bags and placed in a small cardboard box. This box must then be returned to a Walmart store. It is also recommended to clean all surfaces that come into contact with the spray with an undiluted disinfectant cleaner and wash the fabrics by drying them completely in a hot dryer.
Finally, the CDC recommends that anyone who has used the product in the past 21 days and begins to experience unusual symptoms should seek medical attention and tell their doctor that they are using the spray. . .
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