• Research on climate-driven infectious diseases has largely focused on vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.
  • Melioidosis, a bacterial disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is strongly influenced by environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature.
  • South Asia, including India, contributes to 44% of the global burden of melioidosis.
  • The disease has a high fatality rate, particularly in septicemic cases, making early diagnosis crucial.
  • Incorrect diagnosis is common due to bacterial misidentification in microbiology labs.
  • Odisha is emerging as a hotspot for melioidosis cases, necessitating increased medical awareness​.