By Erika Edwards -
NBC News
At least two people died and two others were infected by coming into contact with a very rare bacteria in the United States after using an aromatherapy spray sold at Walmart.
The cases were registered in Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota and Texas.
One of the deceased is a child.
Exposure to Burkholderia bacteria can lead to severe pneumonia or a blood infection.
Todd Parker / CDC via NBC News
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Friday that the department store chain is recalling nearly 4,000 bottles of
Better Homes & Gardens Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones.
The commission urged anyone who owns the spray to return it to Walmart in "clean, clear, sealable bags" placed in a "small cardboard box," rather than throw it away.
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People exposed to the bacteria, called Burkholderia pseudomallei, can develop a disease called melioidosis, which causes severe pneumonia or a blood infection.
It can be fatal if left untreated.
Most infections occur by inhaling droplets from the spray containing the bacteria, although they can also occur if the contaminated product comes into contact with open wounds on the skin.
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"If it's aromatherapy that's misty in the air, people have probably inhaled it," said Jill Weatherhead, professor of tropical medicine and infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine.
The bacteria that cause melioidosis are rare in the United States.
They are commonly found in contaminated land and water in tropical areas of Southeast Asia or northern Australia.
None of the four people diagnosed with melioidosis claimed to have traveled outside the country.