Second Man In Texas Confirmed To Have Contracted Flesh-Eating Disease

A 42-year-old man from Buda, Texas was hospitalized after he was infected by the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which is known to eat flesh.

The man, identified as Adrian Ruiz, is believed to have contracted the infection after he spent time with his family at the Port Aransas, located near Corpus Christi, on the eve of Father's Day. Upon returning home, he said he noticed a rash on his leg, which was later accompanied by high fever and a severe headache.

Inquisitr said that Ruiz was admitted to the Seton Medical Center Hays in Kyle the following day, where a series of tests confirmed that he has contracted the flesh-eating bacteria. His current condition is not yet known, but there have been reports saying that he is fighting to keep his leg from being amputated.

Ruiz is already the second person to report having been contracted by the bacteria in Texas within two weeks. Previously, a man named Brian Parrot of Jacinto city was also infected. He was treated at the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital where medical practitioners did all they could to save his infected leg. The operation had been successful, and a second person was performed to Brian to ensure that the infection will no longer spread to other parts of his body.

Vibrio vulnificus naturally occurs in warm coastal waters and can infect open wounds, especially those exposed to brackish or saltwater. The Examiner noted that at least six different bacteria can cause the disease and could result to developing necrotizing fasciitis.

The bacteria, which can affect people with open wounds, could also be contracted from eating raw or undercooked shellfish, although this would be more diarrheal and would not have anyone need medical attention to recover, although some people could become sick enough to need extra fluids or hospitalization.

The CDC estimated about 95 Vibrio vulnificus cases every year in the US, including around 85 hospitalizations and 35 deaths. People noted that several beaches in Galveston already have advisories put into place, with samples expected to be tested daily until bacteria levels return to normal.