Mapping Environmental Reservoirs of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Taiwanese Melioidosis Hotspots

Since 2005, the geographical distribution of melioidosis in Taiwan has remained highly uneven, with over 50% of annual cases consistently reported from the Zuoying and Nanzi Districts-persistent hotspot areas. Disease incidence in this region frequently peaks following typhoon events, often coinciding with increased detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei in adjacent croplands. This project aims to investigate whether these cropland environments serve as long-term environmental reservoirs of B. pseudomallei, potentially contributing to the recurrent emergence of human melioidosis cases in Taiwan.