The first imported case of melioidosis in a patient in central China.

Here, we report the first imported case of melioidosis from Laos in central China. COMPACT VITEK2 identification system and PCR, as well as sequencing methods confirmed that the patient was infected by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacterial species closely related to an isolate detected in Thailand. These findings are highly valuable for an early diagnosis, treatment and to prevent the spread of this emerging infectious disease in central China.