Glanders and Melioidosis (Deliberate Releases)

Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei are the causative agents of glanders and melioidosis respectively. This page provides links to clinical information and guidance for health professionals dealing with cases of glanders or melioidosis arising as a result of a deliberate release.

Both B. mallei and B. pseudomallei are included in Category B of the CDC list of critical biological agents. They have a number of features that make them candidates for deliberate release including:

• Ability to cause severe, rapidly fatal invasive infections
• Ability to initiate infections via aerosols, inoculation and, possibly, ingestion
• Intrinsic resistance to many antibiotics
• Ability to infect a wide range of animals as well as humans
• Long term persistence in the environment under suitable conditions (B. pseudomallei )