An Indigenous woman from Cairns making a simple attempt to clear weeds from her driveway has led to a month-long hospital stay after she contracted a dangerous tropical infection.

Leichan Williams, 50, was among more than 130 people infected with melioidosis during the Cairns region's worst outbreak of the disease in early 2025.

Melioidosis, known locally as melio, is a bacterium that lives in soil and muddy water.

The bacteria can enter the body through cuts and abrasions or be inhaled through tiny water droplets during heavy rain.

Before becoming ill, Ms Williams, who lives in the southern Cairns suburb of White Rock with her husband and two children, had only heard about melioidosis through her work at a local childcare centre.

She believes she may have been infected while doing quick gardening work at home after returning from work one day.

"I came home from work, jumped out of the car and went to clean the grass and debris out of the drain near our driveway," Ms Williams said.

"We've got four cars, so I didn't want the drain to block because it was really heavy rain.

"I wasn't wearing much protection, just quickly doing it. I reckon that's how it started."

People aged over 50, particularly those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, chronic lung conditions or weakened immune systems, are at greater risk of complications from melioidosis.

Common symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing, which can indicate a lung infection or pneumonia.

Ms Williams said the first sign of illness was extreme fatigue.

"I was getting tiredness, but not normal tiredness from work," she said.

"This was tiredness for no reason. I was getting enough sleep.

"My sugar levels were good, so I knew it wasn't my diabetes."

She soon lost her appetite and developed pain in her chest and back before seeking medical help.

About a week after visiting her GP, she attended Cairns Hospital's emergency department when severe pain spread through her body and right leg.

Doctors diagnosed her with sepsis, an extreme reaction to the melioidosis infection, after her right knee became severely inflamed.

"My knee was huge - it looked like a polished coconut. I couldn't put any weight on it," Ms Williams said.

"They drained it straight away - two bottles of fluid came out."

Doctors later performed surgery twice to flush out fluid and remove infected bone from her femur as the infection spread through her body.

A strong course of antibiotics eventually helped control the infection and prevented the need for amputation.

"The infection could have cost me my leg," Ms Williams said.

Twelve months after leaving hospital, Ms Williams has returned to work but still finds it difficult to climb stairs and get in and out of vehicles while her leg continues to recover.

Doctors will monitor her for the next three years because of the risk of reinfection.

Ms Williams is now urging people to take precautions when working outdoors after heavy rain.

"Melioidosis isn't going anywhere. It's always in the soil," she said.

"If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other conditions, you're more vulnerable," she said.

Anyone with an existing health condition who becomes suddenly unwell is urged to call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for advice.