Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
On October 22nd, 2021, Walmart issued a recall of approximately 3,900 bottles of their Better Homes and Gardens-branded Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones due to the presence of a potentially deadly bacteria in the product. The CDC tested the room spray and determined that it contained the extremely rare and dangerous bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei which causes melioidosis, a condition that is difficult to diagnose and can be fatal. So far, there have been four confirmed cases of melioidosis and two deaths, including that of a child. The cases have been reported in Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, and Texas. The recall includes 6 different scents:
- 84140411420 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lavender & Chamomile
- 84140411421 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lemon and Mandarin
- 84140411422 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lavender
- 84140411423 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Peppermint
- 84140411424 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lime & Eucalyptus
- 84140411425 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Sandalwood and Vanilla
If you have a bottle of Walmart’s Better Homes and Gardens-branded Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones in your home, stop using it immediately and return it to Walmart. If you feel that you have been made ill by the product, contact a doctor as soon as possible to be tested for melioidosis.
What Makes Burkholderia Pseudomallei So Dangerous?
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a dangerous bacteria most commonly found in tropic and subtropic areas. The real danger of the bacteria is that it causes melioidosis, which can range from mild to extremely serious, if not fatal.
What is Melioidosis?
Melioidosis, sometimes called Whitmore’s disease, is a disease that can affect both humans and animals. It can cause localized infection, infection of the lungs or bloodstream, or widespread infection throughout the body. The symptoms of melioidosis are wide-ranging and usually appear 2 to 4 weeks after exposure to the bacteria. Below you will find the symptoms of the different types of infections.
Localized infection:
- Fever
- Pain/swelling of the affected area
- Sores or abscesses
Lung infection:
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Fever
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
Bloodstream infection:
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Headaches
- Joint pain
- Stomach discomfort
Widespread infection:
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Headaches
- Infection of the brain
- Infection of the nervous system
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Seizures
- Stomach pain
- Weight loss
If you have been using Walmart’s recalled aromatherapy room spray and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should see a doctor and be tested for melioidosis as soon as possible. If left untreated, melioidosis can cause pneumonia, septicemia, and even death. Diagnosing melioidosis is essential to your health and can be done through a throat swab, urine sample, blood test, or skin lesion test. The sooner you are diagnosed the sooner you can be treated.
How to Safely Return the Aromatherapy Spray
If you have the recalled aromatherapy room spray from Walmart in your home, it’s important to be careful in handling the product due to the fact that it may contain Burkholderia pseudomallei. Do not discard the product; return it to Walmart. To safely return the product to a Walmart store, wear gloves while handling the product, keep the bottle closed, and double bag the bottle in a resealable, clear zip-top bag. The safely sealed product can then be placed in a cardboard box and returned to a Walmart store for a refund and a $20 Walmart gift card.
What You Should Do if You Are Diagnosed with Melioidosis
If you or someone in your life has been diagnosed with melioidosis after using Walmart’s Better Homes and Gardens-branded Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones, first get medical help, then contact the experienced defective product attorneys at The Collins Law Firm as soon as possible. No one deserves to suffer or lose their life from a rare disease that could have been prevented. You deserve the best attorneys fighting for you, so call us at (630) 527-1595 for a free evaluation of your claim.