Flesh-eating bacteria put man's life at risk Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

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July 19, 2007, 12:52PMFlesh-eating bacteria put man's life at risk

By ALEXIS GRANTCopyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

 

 

 

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WHAT IT IS

 

 

A bacterium called Vibrio vulnificus, which thrives during summer months in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, can cause a deadly disease.

 

• The bacterium: Lives in salt water and is in the same family as the bacterium that causes cholera.

• How it's transmitted: People who eat raw shellfish, particularly oysters, are at risk, as are those with compromised immune systems who swim in salt water with an open wound. It is not transmitted person-to-person.

 

• Symptoms: If ingested, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. For patients with compromised immune systems, the bacterium can infect the bloodstream and cause fever, decreased blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.

 

• Prevalence: It's rare. Most cases occur along the Gulf Coast.

 

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention