Officials from the Sarasota County health Department have issued an alert on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, regarding a suspected case of infection from a flesh eating bacteria that was believed to have played a role in the death of a 50-year-old resident. According to the epidemiologist at the Sarasota County health Department, the 50-year-old patient contracted the condition while on a trip to the Gulf of Mexico. The exact about how, when, and where the patient came down with the infection are unknown because doctors were not able to speak to the victim before his unfortunate passing. They have, however, confirmed that the patient had underlying medical conditions that made him more susceptible to the effects of the infection.
Meanwhile, in nearby Manatee County, 13-year-old Jake Ahlers was infected with the same Vibrio Vulnificus bacteria but received treatment early and survived the infection. Ahlers was in Homosassa fishing for scallops when he contracted the disease, and said that he initially dismissed the condition saying that he thought it was just an ordinary splinter. However, by the next day, his foot was already red and had become swollen. The affected foot was also in severe pain that he could no longer walk on it. This caused his mother to become concerned that he may have gotten an infection from the dirty docks and prompted her to seek medical attention for her son. They found out on Tuesday that Jake wise, in fact, infected with the potentially life-threatening bacteria. He is now recovering from his vibrio infection and is continuing with his antibiotic therapy, the third round in just 10 days. Ahlers is in a stable condition and is getting better, grateful for the immediate medical care he received as he realizes that he could have potential you lost his foot, or his life, to the deadly bacteria.
Vibrio Vulnificus bacteria are commonly found in warm coastal waters and enter the body through open wounds or when they are ingested along with uncooked seafood from infested waters. The symptoms of infection with this type of bacteria are similar to those of food poisoning, and some cases have been known to be fatal.
