Flesh-eating bacteria infections on North Carolina's coast remain rare but serious
STARING FAILED DUE TO THE POWER
LOSS. 6 MEMBERS OF THE ROAD
CREW WERE KILLED. A NORTH
CAROLINA MAN IS STILL IN THE
HOSPITAL BATTLING A SEVERE
INFECTION CAUSED BY A FLESH
EATING BACTERIA. AND IT'S ALL
TIED.
>> TO A SMALL CAUGHT THE HAD ON
HIS LEG. WANT TO BRING IN WRAL
HEALTH REPORTER, GRACE HAVEN.
NOW, GRACE THIS MAN GOT SICK IN
THE OUTER BANKS. AND STATE
OFFICIALS TELL YOU THAT THE
BACTERIA THAT MADE HIM SICK IS
COMMON THERE. DAN, IT'S KNOWN
AS THE REAL VULNIFICUS AND IT
LIVES IN WARM COASTAL WATERS
JUST LIKE THOSE. WE HAVE OUR
MOST POPULAR BEACHES.
>> HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, NOW
INFECTIONS ARE RARE, BUT THEY
CAN BE SEVERE OF THE 7 TOTAL
CASES OUR STATE HAS SEEN SO
FAR THIS YEAR. ONE PERSON HAS
DIED. NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS
THAT THE RISK FOR THE AVERAGE
BEACHGOER REMAINS EXTREMELY
LOW. THAT'S A VETERINARIAN WITH
NCDHHS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT
THESE BACTERIA WON'T ACTUALLY
CAUSE YOU HARM UNLESS YOU HAVE
AN OPEN CUT OR WOUND OR YOU
EAT INFECTED RAW SEAFOOD LIKE
SHELLFISH.
>> GO TO THE BEACH. DON'T BE
AFRAID TO GO BECAUSE YOU CAN
HAVE A GOOD TIME AND JUST KNOW
LIKE ANYTHING THAT THERE ARE
EVERY ACTIVITY IS GOING TO
PROBABLY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
SO IF YOU HAVE A WOUND.
COVER IT BEFORE YOU GO ON TO
>> HERE'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT
PIECES OF ADVICE TO KEEP IN
MIND. WASH YOUR ROUTE WOUNDS
AFTER BEING IN SALTY WATER WITH
SOMETHING LIKE HYDROGEN
PEROXIDE. THAT'S GONNA HELP
KILL ANY HARMFUL BACTERIA THAT
MAY HAVE TRIED TO WORM ITS WAY
INSIDE HEALTH OFFICIALS ALSO
STRONGLY URGE YOU TO AVOID
EATING ANY RAW OYSTERS. WEAST
ARE IS ARE FILTER FEEDERS WHICH
MEANS THEY PULL WATER THROUGH
THEIR BODIES TO STRAIGHT OUT
TINY PARTICLES. MAKING IT MORE
LIKELY THAT HARMFUL BACTERIA
LIKE THE REAL VULNIFICUS WILL
WIND UP IN AND THEN AND THEN
NEW TO THE BOTTOM LINE HERE
IS THAT RIO CAN BE DANGEROUS
SYMPTOMS LIKE FEVER, PAIN AND
VOMITING NEED TO BE TREATED
QUICKLY AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART,
INFECTIONS STILL REMAIN RARE.