Help Dessie fight Meloidosis and Return Safely Home

We are urgently raising funds for Dessie Dalziel after he was struck by a mysterious illness which has left him debilitated and fighting for his life from sepsis.

It has now become clear that he has contracted a very rare condition called Meloidosis, and he is very lucky to be alive!An Army Veteran, Dessie moved out to The Philippines in March 2025, leaving his life and friends in Jersey and hoping to settle out there for a while and lease some land peacefully on the island of Siquijor.

Less than two months after he moved there, he was suddenly struck down with what was suspected as heatstroke, but violently turned into his legs being so swollen and painful that he could not walk or move. His friends took him to a hospital where they diagnosed bacterial cellulitis, pneumonia and a DVT in one of his legs.

After returning to his home in Siquijor he rapidly got worse and one of his close friends, Liz, flew out from Jersey to care for him. On her arrival she realised how severe the situation was and called an ambulance where he was transferred to the ACE hospital, Dumaguete, where they diagnosed sepsis and DVTs now in both legs (he continues to be treated for the DVTs but his legs are too painful to be scanned so this is not confirmed at this point).

The next week was critical with things going from bad to worse, and when finally they found an 'unknown bacteria' in his blood, the infectious diseases team were called and he was finally diagnosed with Glanders Disease, and now today they have changed this to Meloidosis, which is the same bacteria but instead of contracted primarily through animals (Glanders Disease is classed as a bioweapon!), Meloidosis is contracted through infected soil and water.

It has now become apparent that there are a number of locals from the island where Dessie has been living in Siquijor, that are also in hospital currently suffering from the same disease (two of which have died), but Dessie is the first Westerner to contract it. A local news outlet in The Philippines ran a small article about it on May 27th, and the Governor "emphasised the situation is under control and that Siquijor remains safe for residents and tourists". We are unsure at the moment if everyone, infact, actually has Glanders Disease or Meloidosis, but either way, we think it is quite dangerous to not be warning tourists and locals alike more urgently about the disease. The ACE infectious disease team are currently working tirelessly to locate the source of this outbreak and ensure that the people of Siquijor are safe, and we are very grateful for the care and support they have showed Dessie whilst ensuring his treatment is administered correctly and that his body is responding to it.

He is now receiving the correct treatment whilst remaining bedridden in hospital (still unable to move), however the process is lengthy and very expensive. For perspective, his hospital stays for the past two weeks are over £3,000, and his daily meds alone to treat Meloidosis (which are a very specific antibiotic and therefore expensive), his daily hospital stay and food and water (which the hospital does not provide), are mounting to around £200 per day. He has been told he will need a minimum of two more weeks in hospital with an IV antibiotic drip, and then the long road to recovery remains unknown at this time.

His friend Liz who is currently caring for him 24/7 needs to return home in 5 days time, and so we need to organise extra finances for him to pay for care whilst he's recovering (typically 14 – 28 days), and then to ensure he can fly home safely to his friends and family to care for him in the aftermath of this horrific ordeal. As this disease has affected his legs so badly, he will need a wheelchair to the airport and plane, and we believe he would need to fly business class for the additional (and essential!), leg room and comfort. This flight alone is currently priced at around £3,000.

As it currently stands, we don’t know when he will be able to return to Jersey, as Meloidosis is classed as such a dangerous disease, the UK will, understandably, be very strict on when he can enter the country. He may need an oral antibiotic for up to 6 months to continue to treat the aftereffects in his body, and we are unsure at what point he will be able to leave The Philippines. Dessie and Liz are in contact with the British Embassy on this matter, and we can keep everyone updated.

Dessie is known and loved around the world as he spent many years travelling and living in various countries, as well as his previous army days. We are desperately praying that everyone can come together to help him in his time of need and show him that he is loved and won't be alone and penniless for his relocation and recovery back in Jersey.