AN aromatherapy spray made-in-India has been pulled off from Walmart’s shelves in the US after a medical investigation linked it to melioidosis, a rare disease that has sickened at least four, and may have caused two deaths.
The spray was reported to contain a bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, that causes a rare but deadly disease called melioidosis, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a statement.
The spray, “Better Homes and Gardens Lavender & Chamomile Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones”, was found on October 6 in the home of a Georgia resident who became ill with melioidosis in late July.
“CDC is continuing testing to see if the genetic fingerprint of the bacteria in the bottle matches those of the bacteria identified in the four patients – one each in Georgia, Kansas, Texas, and Minnesota. Two of the four patients died,” the agency said.
The contaminated spray was sold at 55 Walmart stores on the company’s website from February to October 21 of this year.
According to reports, the room spray was manufactured by Flora Classique Inc, a company registered in Wildomar, California. The company is affiliated with Ramesh Flowers Pvt Ltd. In Tuticorin India. Since 2018, the company has been a part of the Gala Candles Group in Germany, reports said.
The CDC has been testing blood samples from patients as well as soil, water and consumer products in and around patients’ homes since they began receiving samples in May.
A sample of the Better Homes & Gardens spray tested positive for the bacterium this week and genetic analysis revealed that it was similar to the strains found in South Asia, the CDC statement noted.
Melioidosis is a rare but serious disease in the US with 12 cases reported annually.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Walmart also issued a recall for the lavender and chamomile room spray and five other scents in the same product line. Investigation continues into whether other related scents and brands may pose a risk.
The CDC has recommended that anyone who has the aromatherapy spray in their home to stop using it immediately, a statement said.
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