Health officials on Tuesday said an elderly man infected with melioidosis died on Monday, becoming the ninth death involving a patient with the disease in Hong Kong this year.

The man, 89, had suffered from a number of chronic illnesses, including colon cancer, ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke.

He lived in Sham Shui Po and had been in hospital since October 8.

The Centre for Health Protection said among 34 patients infected with the disease this year, two remain in hospital and 23 had been discharged.

It stressed melioidosis normally is not transmitted between people or animals but people can be infected through contact with contaminated soil and surface waters.