By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE family of a Bahamian man fighting for his life in hospital claims he contracted one of the world’s most deadly “flesh-eating” bacteria while in the coastal waters off Andros.
The salt water borne bacteria, called vibrio vulnificus, has been making headlines in Florida – where it has killed 10 people and infected another 27 this year.
The victim’s relatives told The Tribune he became ill in Andros on Saturday and is currently being treated at a private hospital in Nassau.
One family member described it as a “very, very serious situation” and said the victim is “very ill.”
When contacted Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez said he was unaware of any reported cases of the infection, adding that “if an outbreak were to occur everyone would know because it’s the kind of thing that causes diarrhea and the like.”
Despite trying for two days to get a further response from Ministry of Health officials, emails and phone messages were not returned.
The representative of the private hospital declined to confirm if the victim was being treated there, citing patient confidentiality.
The representative suggested that The Tribune contact representatives of the Public Hospital Authority (PHA), as reports are made to PHA in all such cases.
However, when contacted, a PHA representative said: “The patient in question is not a patient of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) or the Public Hospital Authority (PHA). Considering this fact, the PHA cannot comment on the matter.”
The official advised The Tribune to contact the Ministry of Health, as this is the entity with which the private hospital should liaise.
However, a second day of repeated calls to Ministry of Health officials proved fruitless.
This year, rising cases of the bacterial infection have been reported in Florida, where public health officials have been working to increase awareness and reduce risks relating to the bacteria.
Among healthy people, ingestion of vibrio vulnificus can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and inflammation of the skin.
Persons with compromised immune systems can have the bacteria infect their bloodstream, causing a severe and life-threatening illness characterised by fever and chills, decreased blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions.
Foreign health officials say vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal in about 50 per cent of cases.
According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) the organism is a natural inhabitant of warm coastal waters. Infection can occur after a wound is exposed to warm coastal waters where the v vulnificus organism is growing. Infection may also be acquired by eating raw or under cooked seafood from those waters.
Comments
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 6 months ago
What? so if someone contracted the Ebola virus but wasn't being treated at PMH they wouldn't be concerned?
djohnson 10 years, 6 months ago
My sympathy goes out to him even though I don't know him personally that could of been anyone.I pray God heal him to fight off the Vibrio Vulnificus bacteria. Know I aware how important it really is to always cook your meats properly and to be more careful if wounded to be alert of the warm waters because it can be found in warm climate or raw meats.
nationbuilder 10 years, 6 months ago
what the hell @ the health minister????
John 10 years, 6 months ago
Hey Andros is just right there.. Holiday on Monday...Is it safe to go into the sea water? What about seafood, conch salad especially How safe is it? Looks like we may soon have to cancel Christmas! poisonous toads...flesh eating virus..what else?
lazybor 10 years, 6 months ago
scary...
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Islandboy242242 10 years, 6 months ago
Without any official word from the hospital are we sure this is infact vibrio vulnificus? Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and inflammation of the skin can be symptoms of a myriad of diseases including ciguatera poisoning.
Valuable information to the public would be what this man had eaten, or where he swam in Andros and if there is poor plumbing and stagnant water in the area.
I am sorry for the gentleman, but at the same time I think we need to get some concrete info here before everyone goes into a mass panic.
John 10 years, 6 months ago
Well according to the Minister of Health the general public is safe from this bacterial attack. According to him, "Only persons with an open wound or a compromised immune system are at risk and should avoid the waters or raw or undercooked sea food,: But hey when we was growing up and get burn or " jook" with nail or even dog bite the old people use to tell us go wash it in the sea and the wound would heal in a few days..how things change..Is that a similar bacteria to the one that make all the people sick on cruise ships?
4renbahamian 10 years, 6 months ago
10 deaths in Florida this year, check your facts because if a dog gets kill on the highway it makes the news. That much deaths from this bacteria would be on CNN because if the DOE would be all over it.
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