The deaths of two people and a pet racoon have been traced to a lavender and chamomile-scented spray, authorities have said.
A report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, revealed the pet's death was also connected to the outbreak last year.
In October 2021, investigators found the deadly bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei in the imported spray that was being sold by 55 Walmart stores across the US.
During the outbreak a previously healthy pet raccoon owned by a four-year-old girl walked through the perfume after breaking a bottle of it in March 2021.
The raccoon "displayed acute neurologic symptoms consistent with neurologic melioidosis" after the exposure and died three days later, reports NBC.
The report read: “This is the first reported presumed melioidosis case documented in a raccoon and the first animal case linked to this outbreak."
Walmart recalled around 3,900 bottles of the lavender and chamomile scent of Better Homes & Gardens Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray With Gemstones.
The bacteria found in the bottle causes a rare illness called melioidosis, which causes flu-like symptoms. It can be treated with antibiotics.
The company also contacted 2,000 customers who had purchased the spray.
The deaths of a five-year-old boy in Georgia and a 53-year-old woman in Kansas were linked to the spray.
It was also the source of the illness of a 53-year-old man in Minnesota and a four-year-old girl in Texas, whose pet racoon was the one that died.
In a statement issued in October 2021, a spokesperson for Walmart said: “Our sympathies go out to the four families that have been impacted by this situation.
"Customer safety is always a top priority and as part of the recall we proactively put plans in action to notify customers and prevent further product sales while federal agencies continue their investigation.”
The CDC had gone to the Texan girl's house to collect samples from the buried raccoon.
Samples collected from the area around where the pet was buried tested negative for the deadly bacteria, said the CDC.
The bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei is rarely found in the US but can be found in contaminated soil or water in parts of Souh and Southeast Asia.
The perfume was imported from India.
On the release of the latest CDC report Better Homes & Gardens said they "fully supported Walmart last year as they worked to ensure that the product was recalled and discontinued.”
Person to person spread of melioidosis is extremely rare, says the CDC.
