A report is presented of seven patients with acute septicaemic melioidosis seen at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during 1976-1979. All had associated disorders which rendered them more susceptible to infection. As prognosis depends on early diagnosis it is important that this disease be considered in the differential diagnosis of a septicaemic illness in such patients from endemic areas. The treatment of choice is a combination of tetracyclines and chloramphenicol, initially used in massive doses, and continued for at least six month to prevent relapses.