A recent outbreak of Melioidosis in flood devastated North Queensland has claimed at least seven lives and with even more cases being reported.
The rare disease has put health authorities on alert as the severity of this current outbreak is higher compared to years gone past.
To find out exactly what is the disease and why its surging, 4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer of Microbiology at Western Sydney University.
For a deep dive...
The governments of Northern Territory and Queensland provide useful health fact sheets for Melioidosis. If you wish to learn more about the disease itself then the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is another helpful resource for you to check out.
To follow the latest on the North Queensland flood disaster, this link will provide all the updates on the situation.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Dan! (Image via PickPik)

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Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Dan! (Image via Flickr)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Ethan and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Stella, Em, and Alec.

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Your 11AM Zedlines with Cass and Hailey

Your 10AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie

Your 9am Zedlines with Hailey and Cass.

Your 8AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie

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Your 9AM Zedlines with Ellen, Sarah and Alannah
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Your 8AM Zedlines with Miko and Niamh
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Your 11AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Dan (image via Flickr)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Charlie and Yuchen (Image via Flickr)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Dan, Ava and Asha (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Charlie and Yuchen (Image via Flickr)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Stella and Em

Your 8am Zedlines with Sarah, Vivek and Alec.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Cass and Hailey

Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Lachlan

Your 9AM Zedlines with Cass and Hailey

Your 8AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie

Your 11AM Zedlines with Jules, Clementine and Livinia

Your 10AM Zedlines with Dane, Livinia and Jules