‘No cause for alarm’ after man killed by flesh-eating bug

[Lite Beer]

‘No cause for alarm’ after man killed by flesh-eating bug
Tanyaluk Sakoot

Pla Taptim: Cook it well. Photo Allen Timothy Chang

BANGKOK: -- People who enjoy a nice piece of fish have been warned to be careful how they handle it in a market, and to clean any wounds as soon as possible, following reports that a Thai man died after pricking his hand on a fish bone.

Authorities have been careful not to say where this happened (though it was not in Phuket) but reports of the death from necrotising fasciitis – so-called “flesh-eating” bacterial infection – have been circulating in Thai news media for some days.

The man, it is reported, was pricked on July 11 by a bone from one of Thailand’s favourite fish, pla taptim, or red tilapia.

Although the wound was treated by a doctor he collapsed , by which time the bacteria had infected his blood and it was too late to save him.

Doctors who examined him believe that he was infected by a form of Aeromonas bacteria, some of which can cause tissue to dissolve – “flesh eating”.

Ratthanakorn Panduang, epidemiology specialist at Vachira Phuket Hospital told The Phuket News, “We have had no reports of such infections recently in the population of Phuket.

“We did have a case some time ago of a person who was infected after being jabbed by a bone from an anabas fish (a type of perch). The finger became very inflamed and we had to amputate it.

“The [severity of the] infection depends on the victim’s health and on any vaccines they may have had.”

Doctor Sopon Metthanon, Director of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) in Bangkok, said the DDC had been notified of the death from necrotising fasciitis.

He explained,“If this kind of bacteria gets into the circulatory system then it can cause shock and death within 48 hours, particularly in people who are in weak health or have diabetes.”

Dr Opart Kankawinpong, Director in Chief of the DDC, pointed out, “Lots of bacteria in the environment can cause infections in muscles or flesh.”

He added that cases of necrotising fasciitis are very rare, and are therefore not something that should cause great alarm.

The DDC database describes the signs and symptoms: fever, inflammation of the wound with serious pain, and darkening of the flesh around the wound. Treatment consists of antibiotics, though in serious cases flesh may have to be cut away.

The lesson, health officials advise, is to clean any wound as soon as possible, and to see a doctor if there is swelling, inflammation or fever.

Like all fresh, uncooked food, fish carry bacteria of many kinds, but eating them is safe as long as the fish is well cooked.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/%E2%80%98no-cause-for-alarm%E2%80%99-after-man-killed-by-flesh-eating-bug-47538.php

-- Phuket News 2014-07-25

[Showbags]

So...warning is to be careful of pricks.

[JetsetBkk]

So...warning is to be careful of pricks.

Thanks. I already avoid certain bars.

[iReason]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

So...warning is to be careful of pricks.

No. I would imagine the warning is: Be advised when dealing with the most common fish served by Thai (pictured above) and the Black Tilapia.

[UbonRatch]

"(though it was not in Phuket)"

Obviously a TAT addition.

[Hawk]

No cause for alarm at all!

[Bluespunk]

I think I'll opt for the alarmed option when it comes to flesh eating bugs.

[espinoza]

Red tilapia is a not a species of tilapia, it is instead a name used for several different man-made tilapia variants that sport and attractive red colouration. These variants are the result of continuous selective breeding. Many farmers prefer to cultivate red tilapia since it is much sought after in certain markets. The case vith this letal outcomes vas i China. I do not remember the city, but a lot of people there got sick, and a few died from a bacterial disease traced back to this fish.

[MK1]

This is just guesstimating again. Better to send both the offending fish and the deceased off-shore for a proper toxicologist assessment since Thailand has no effective expertise in this area. Otherwise rumor and innuendo will spread that all fish are infected with the’ flesh-eating’ bug.

Quiet possible, he may have suffered from an adverse anaphylactic-reaction in the end.

[espinoza]

Freshwater pomfret was the cause of that terrible bacterial outbreak in China.

[noitom]

"No cause for alarm." No need to worry, Thais say so it must be true.

[crusader79]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

So...warning is to be careful of pricks.

No. I would imagine the warning is: Be advised when dealing with the most common fish served by Thai (pictured above) and the Black Tilapia.

Q.E.D.

Edited July 26, 2014 by crusader79

[Payboy]

No alarm, go directly to panic mode.

[John_Betong]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrotizing_fasciitis

A friend of mine was affected with "necrotising fasciitis", April 2012.

He was treated in the Veterans Hospital and fortunately managed to fully recover in about six months.

Here' a picture of his foot where you can see bones and sinew.

[slipperylobster]

That last picture was necessary? I was just out to be my Bacon and Sausage Breakfast !

[bangkokheat]

thats it, im going vegetarian

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Erysipelas and Cellulitis are extremely common in Thai villages.

Four of my family have had minor infections in the last year.

(almost every infection leaves scarring)

I also spotted one foreigner with an infection on his face last year, he didn't have a clue anything was wrong, but took my advice and went to a doctor before it was too late.

Rainy season is here, DO NOT leave small skin injuries and abrasions untreated.

Edited July 26, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[klauskunkel]

Like all fresh, uncooked food, fish carry bacteria of many kinds, but eating them is safe as long as the fish is well cooked

Sashimi, anyone?

[RisingSun]

Red tilapia is a not a species of tilapia, it is instead a name used for several different man-made tilapia variants that sport and attractive red colouration. These variants are the result of continuous selective breeding. Many farmers prefer to cultivate red tilapia since it is much sought after in certain markets. The case vith this letal outcomes vas i China. I do not remember the city, but a lot of people there got sick, and a few died from a bacterial disease traced back to this fish.

So, this bacteria is a man-made one ...

[ginjag]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrotizing_fasciitis

A friend of mine was affected with "necrotising fasciitis", April 2012.

He was treated in the Veterans Hospital and fortunately managed to fully recover in about six months.

Here' a picture of his foot where you can see bones and sinew.

This foot could be from a Predator movie, alarming is a formal way to describe it.

[Kabula]

I'm alarmed that I might melt!

I hope that mosquitoes avoided that fish.

For 50 years, while traveling worldwide I don 't ever recall hearing about flesh eating bacteria. It seems it is in the news more and more in several countries.

Hmmmmm...

[Kabula]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrotizing_fasciitis

A friend of mine was affected with "necrotising fasciitis", April 2012.

He was treated in the Veterans Hospital and fortunately managed to fully recover in about six months.

Here' a picture of his foot where you can see bones and sinew.

This foot could be from a Predator movie, alarming is a formal way to describe it.

[Kabula]

Was all that damage caused by the bacteria or by incompetent doctors in training at the VA hospital?

I wonder if there was a delay in treatment similar to what I experience in the emergency room?

[wolfmanjack]

I will just let my wife deal with any fish that get cooked around here.

[cmsally]

http://news.msn.com/rumors/rumor-imported-chinese-tilapia-are-often-raised-on-feces

Many articles on these fish due to what they are being fed,

bad quality of water and antibiotics they are given. Tends to breed some nasty bacteria.

Edited July 26, 2014 by cmsally

[canuckamuck]

You can get infections from any type of puncture, I don't think Red Tilapia are special in this case, Even your own skin could be hosting any number of deadly bacteria that just need the right conditions to multiply. Just make sure you pay attention to all wounds.

[pchansmorn]

Im eating shell fish only.

[Rykbanlor]

(although it wasn't Phuket), they then go on to mention that the guy was treated in Phuket hospital, reported by the Phuket news, and another doctor quoted as saying "we have never had a case like this before in Phuket".

Disclaimer: Yes, I know he could have come in from Pang nga to be treated, but lets have a laugh anyway

[Yme]

I was recently in hospital in Darwin and in the same ward were two Aborigines from the islands with flesh eating disease. The worst was a 23cm x 23cm infection on his back that the hospital had already tried to treat with skin grafts from his thigh. All five of the skin grafts had failed. He had a large plastic patch covering the wound connected to a low pressure suction device that sucked the rotting flesh into a capture receptacle. The prognosis for this chap was not good.

[SouthernMan3]

So...warning is to be careful of pricks.

Thanks. I already avoid certain bars.

I am safe as I avoid ALL bars