Flesh Eating Bacteria

[darstm]

Hey guys,
Has anyone heard any reports in the Galveston area of anyone being infected?

I live in San Marcos and know of 2 people from this area alone this year that have been infected by this virus and have both passed away.
Both of these cases were contracted in the Port O'Connor area. One man had an open cut on his foot where the infection started and the other, doctors say, that it was absorbed through the pores in his skin.

Both of them had already had there foot then leg amputated. One of them had spread to his face and the other spread to his kidneys and lungs. Both of them died within a week of being out fishing.

Both men caught the bacteria while wade fishing.
I have not seen or heard any reports at all in the media.

[WestEndAngler]

Matt, sure you have heard reports or you just turned a deaf ear to them...

Vibrio is another name for the bacteria...

It is mostly found in warm bay water or ocean fronts during the hot summer months. Anglers, swimmers etc are encouraged to not enter the water if they have open wounds. Some, will even wear breathable waders year round to prevent this. Most people who contract this bacteria have a weakened immune system however some have been in perfect health.

Do a search on the forum for "Virbio" we've had users contract it.

[RedfishAssassin]

Yeah that scares the crap out of me fishing west bay.

[OR19]

I use hydrogen peroxide on any cuts I get while wading or if I have a cut I hit it with the peroxide when I get out...from what I've read Vibrio is in almost all bays/beaches on the TX coast in the summertime. So all of us who fish/play in the surf/bays are probably exposed to it at one time or another. Waders are probably the only sure bet to not be exposed, but I've also heard of people getting it from a cut on their hand when they dipped their hand it a live bait bucket. I haven't ever heard of anyone who didn't have a compromised immune system getting it...not saying it hasn't happened but if you dig deep enough most people who contract it have some ailment like diabeties, hepatitis, etc. that weakens their system. I waded the past 2 weeks(at least 4 or 5 times) with a good size cut on my shin I got while wading, and hit the cut with peroxide when I got out each time and I'm no worse for the wear...

[reeltime]

Carry bleach and Betadine(walgreens) and put on wounds.

[dbarham]

Carry bleach and Betadine(walgreens) and put on wounds.

x2

[corndog]

Betadine I also keep hand sanitized on the console readily available for after handling fish

[Muddskipper]

........ i keep a bottle of 50% bleach and 50% water on the boat and in the dock box. ........

Your concentration is to strong, and could cause additional issues ....per posion control, a solution of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water will kill bacteria ....

Vibrio has been around for longer than any of us.... this particular strain is found only on the GOM, from May - Oct. And thrives in the warmer water temprtures.

You can get it two ways - blood stream/ open cut/ wound
Ingest it - why we dont eat oysters in the summer, and the reason people with health issues should never eat raw oysters
you can get it from shrimp

My uncle got it a few years back before it was popular. Angleton/Danbury Mis-diagnosed it for a week, calling it a snake bite and was giving his hand, that was now cut open by doctors, and acid bath..... it was frecking ridiculas.... when they started talking about taking his whole arm, my aunt got him to Houston to the big hospitals..... in short, they saved him and his arm, but he lost his trigger finger.

He still hunts and fishes, but no fishing in the summer, it just aint worth it.....

If you like to drink and your older, you are more prone to get it ....

BUT, you never see kids catch it, and they are always going into the water with small cuts and knicks ...... good imune systems, and they don't drink

SO preety much every FWE member should stay out of the water during the summer more so for JT and AP...

but seriously, be mindful if your in the water and the next day you feel bad of see a cut get worse. Get to a real hospital, and DO NOT try to fight it like you would with a regular wound. It moves fast, and the Culture can take up to 48 hrs, so most docotrs will put you on a IV with the proper meds, before anything else....just tell them you were fishing in the bay, and you think it could be vibrio....

Other than that have fun and go fishing

[Curmudgeon]

Thanks, MSkipper. Words to live by.

[Curmudgeon]

So I just started trying to do a little research. Most of the stats I found were pretty out of date: 1 in 906,666 or 0.00% or 300 people 1988-1995. Are there any more recent studies out there?

[OR19]

Good info MS.