TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday reported six melioidosis cases and two deaths in Kaohsiung after Typhoon Danas, bringing infections this year to a new high of 27.

Melioidosis is a bacterial infection in people and animals, usually spread by contaminated water or soil.

The CDC said the latest cases, reported between July 15 and 21, involved patients in their 50s to 90s who all had underlying health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease, per CNA. Two had confirmed exposure to floodwater or sludge during the storm.

CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Kuo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said the onset dates for the new cases ranged from July 9 to 13. Although the current outbreak is smaller than the one following Typhoon Gaemi last year, when 69 cases and 13 deaths were reported in a single month, officials warned the situation could worsen depending on future typhoon activity.

CDC Spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) noted that melioidosis has a long incubation period, and Taiwan’s unusually early spike — 13 cases between January and April — was likely tied to the four typhoons that struck late last year.

One of the latest victims was a man in his 50s with peptic ulcers and alcoholic liver disease. After developing fever and abdominal pain after the typhoon, he was misdiagnosed at a clinic. His condition deteriorated, leading to hospitalization and death. Blood tests later confirmed a melioidosis infection.

The second fatality was a man in his 90s with no known typhoon exposure. He developed respiratory symptoms in mid-July and died of pneumonia and bacteremia the day after ICU admission. He also tested positive for melioidosis.

CDC officials urged high-risk individuals to avoid exposure to floodwaters or contaminated soil during and after storms.