Flesh-eating bacteria cases increasing in NC< lands fisherman in the ICU
AT THE SAME TIME, 9-1-1,
RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT THE FIRE,
A FLESH EATING BACTERIA LANDS
IN NORTH CAROLINA. FISHERMAN IN
THE ICU FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE.
>> RIGHT NOW DOCTORS ARE
TREATING HIM FOR A DANGEROUS
INFECTION. LOOK AT THIS.
IT ALL STARTED WITH A TINY CUT
ON HIS LEG AND NOW THE
INFECTION HAS SPREAD. HEALTH
OFFICIALS SAY HE'S NOT ALONE.
59 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN
NORTH CAROLINA. ONE DEATH AND
THE NUMBER OF ILLNESSES IS
EXPECTED TO RISE. WRAL'S.
LIZ MCLAUGHLIN JOINS US NOW
LIVE LIVES. YOU'VE BEEN TALKING
WITH THE PATIENT FIGHTING THIS
INFECTION.
>> ASHLEY HAD BEEN TEXTING WITH
HIM AND HE'S NOT STRONG ENOUGH
TO TALK ON CAMERA. AND DOCTORS
ARE STILL CHECKING HIS THE
TISSUE IS LIKE HOUR BY HOUR.
BUT HE GOT DOING WHAT POWERS
THIS TOWN CATCHING SEAFOOD.
AND I SPOKE WITH HIS FRIEND
TODAY WHO UNLOADED A CATCH-UP.
SURE. AND JUST A FEW HOURS AGO
AND AND HE NOW HERE YOU CAN
STILL SMELL, YOU KNOW, THAT
SALTY FISH, UNIQUE SMELL FROM
WHERE HE UNLOADED THAT CATCH.
IT'S JUST A POWERFUL REMINDER
FOR HIM WITH A FRIEND OF THIS
MAN IN THE HOSPITAL THAT JUST
ONE SMALL INCISION CAN LEAD TO
A LIFE-THREATENING INFECTION.
>> MARK MITCHAM HAS WORKED
THESE WATERS SINCE 1984.
>> WE LOVE THE JOB BUT KNOWS A
HIDDEN DANGER LURKS HERE.
>> THE ABRIO BACTERIA GOT TO
KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING
AND TRY TO BE SMART. THAT
WARNING HIT HOME LAST WEEK WHEN
A FELLOW SHRIMPER AND CLOSE
FRIEND WAS RUSHED TO OUTER
BANKS HOSPITAL AFTER THE
INFECTION RACED UP HIS LEG.
>> HE'S NOW FIGHTING TO
SURVIVE. HE TO FRIEND. AND
YOU'D ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP
HELP PEOPLE ON THE TV STAR'S
LIFE.
>> DOCTORS CALL THE BRILL
VULNIFICUS A FLESH EATER.
THE CDC SAYS IT CAN KILL ONE
IN 5 PATIENTS, SOME IN LESS
THAN 48 HOURS GETTING BETTER.
BUT THAT'S UP TO THEM.
>> GARY THING THERE BEEN PEOPLE
A YEAR DIE FROM THAT A LITTLE
BIT OLDER. THE BACTERIA IN WARM
BRACKISH WATER BAD AND THEY
THINK.
WE GOT A CUT ON AND GOT GOT TO
BE CAREFUL. MITCHAM NOW WEARS
GLOVES AND SANITIZES OFTEN TO
KEEP THE BACTERIA AT BAY HERE,
DON.
>> CLOROX AND COMPATIBLE.
>> CLIMATE SCIENTISTS SAY
WARMER WATER IS LETTING VIBRIO
MULTIPLY FASTER. ONCE THE
TEMPERATURES GET.
YOU KNOW, UPWARDS OF 90 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT. THEY START TO
DOUBLE THE NUMBER REALLY FAST.
SO THE NUMBERS TEND TO RISE.
CASES ARE CLIMBING ACROSS THE
SOUTHEAST. 8 DEATHS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN REPORTED IN GULF
STATES THIS YEAR. WELL ABOVE
THE DECADE-LONG AVERAGE.
>> SAYS HE'S LOST TO FELLOW
WATERMEN TO INFECTIONS HERE
IN BEXAR COUNTY IN JUST THE
LAST 2 YEARS, COMMISSION SAYS
HE REALLY HOPES HIS FRIEND CAN
PULL THROUGH AND HE'S URGING
EVERYONE NOW TO TREAT EVERY CUT