Experts have issued a warning after a California woman developed a bacterial infection and had all of her limbs amputated after cooking fish bought from a local market. They said the type of infection that caused her illness could become more common as climate change worsens.
Laura Barajas cooked and ate the fish – tilapia – and was subsequently hospitalised for more than a month, but on 13 September, doctors had to remove both arms and legs to save her life, reports The Independent.
They said shortly after eating the fish, she started experiencing symptoms of a Vibrio vulnificus infection – which can develop after eating raw or undercooked seafood or oysters, or through an open wound, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On 1 September, the agency released a health advisory warning the public about deadly Vibrio infections, which are associated with warm coastal waters, and which research suggests may increase in the coming years due to global warming.
Vibrio vulnificus infections are commonly fatal, with around 20% of people who develop them dying, sometimes within two days of becoming ill.
Patients sometimes need intensive care and amputations, as Bjarajas did. In addition to amputations, they may also need to have dead tissue removed.
Vibrio infections can cause debilitating symptoms like stomach cramping, watery diarrhoea, nausea, fever, vomiting, chills, low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions. If a wound has been infected with the bacteria, symptoms may also include redness, swelling, pain, warmth, discolouration and discharge.
The infection can be diagnosed if Vibrio bacteria are found in a blood or stool sample from someone who is ill, or in the patient’s wound.
While these infections can affect anyone, certain people are more likely to develop severe complications from them, like people with liver disease, cancer, HIV, diabetes or thalassaemia; those who take medications that make it harder for the body to fight germs; people who take medication to decrease stomach acid; and those who have recently had stomach surgery
Most cases of the infection are reported during outbreaks, said the CDC, which notes there have been local outbreaks as well as larger, multi-state outbreaks.
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