Deadly flesh-eating bacteria STRIKES again as infected hurricane water kills second victim

Relief worker Josue Zurita became the second person
to die in the devastated city after bacteria in the flood
water enter a wound.
The 31-year-old had been helping repair homes left
damaged after Houston was hit by Hurricane Harvey
when a wound on his upper arm became seriously
infected.
Infectious disease specialist Dr Philip Keiser said: “It’s
most likely this person’s infection occurred when
bacteria from Harvey debris or floodwater entered his
body through a wound or cut.”
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Mr Zurita was told he had necrotising fasciitis which
destroys soft tissue, the Galveston County Health
District said in a statement.
Relatives told the local media: “He’s a very caring
person.
“He
has a
lot of
friends
here in
Galveston that love him. Everybody is very sad. He
was very young and always smiling.”
The deadly flood waters are thought to be the source
of the infection which claimed its first victim recently.
Nancy Reed, 77, the infection after she fell and broke
her arm in her flooded home.
Hurricane Harvey's
catastrophic destruction
Sat, September 2, 2017
Hurricane Harvey was the first major hurricane to
make landfall in the United States since Wilma in
2005
PLAY
A U.S. Air Force pararescueman carries a young
girl to safety over flood waters caused by
Hurricane Harvey in Houston [REUTERS]
REUTERS 1 of 26
The bacteria is thought to have entered the victims
wounds through floodwater
A county medical examiner confirmed the bacteria
enter her body through cuts.
Texas Department of State Health Services spokesman
said they were aware of “at least two” flesh-eating
bacteria deaths from the Harvey.
The infection is very rare but can be deadly in a short
time
Residents are advised to clean wounds and cover
them quickly with dry bandages to gift the fast-
spreading infection.
Anyone exposed to flood waters should look out for
symptoms that include warms skin, painful swelling,
fever, chills and fatigue.
Dr Keiser said: “This is a very rare infection, but that
doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking for this
person’s family and friends.”

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