A day at the beach for Father’s Day turned into a nightmare for this Texas man and his family when he contracted a “very aggressive” flesh-eating bacteria infection on his leg.
Adrian Ruiz became infected with the dangerous bacteria called vibrio from a Port Aransas beach on the Gulf of Mexico. This particular bacteria is found in much higher concentrations in certain waters during the warmer months of the year according to the CDC.
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Vibrio infection has the potential to lead to vibriosis in humans, an illness that can cause abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and like in Ruiz’s case, a skin infection.
Ruiz became sick within hours of the beach and the infection now threatens to require the amputation of his right leg.
“Within a few hours after being in the water he was sick and is now battling this horrible bacteria which has caused a nasty, huge open sore wound on his right leg,” his family writes on the page.
Image: RaeAnn Christiensen/ Fox 7
Image: RaeAnn Christiensen/ Fox 7
After sleeping that night, Ruiz woke up to a red rash on his leg and was told it was cellulitis when he was treated at an emergency clinic – he was admitted into ICU on June 20 at Seton Medical Center in Kyle, according to KSAT.
Officials say there has been no confirmation of vibrio vulnificus in Port Aransas, stating that reports are purely speculation:
“Our thoughts are with the gentleman and his family,” said Ann Bracher Vaughan, President and CEO of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau. “We welcome over five million visitors to Port Aransas annually. This is the first reported case of Vibrio this year, and while terribly unfortunate, there is no way to confirm where the man came in contact with the bacteria.”
To prevent vibriosis, the CDC recommends the following:
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked oysters or other shellfish. Cook them before eating.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water after handing raw shellfish.
- Stay out of brackish or salt water if you have a wound (including cuts and scrapes), or cover your wound with a waterproof bandage if there’s a possibility it could come into contact with brackish or salt water, or before touching raw seafood or raw seafood juices.
- Wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water if they have been exposed to seawater or raw seafood or its juices.
If you develop a skin infection, contact your doctor, especially if your skin has come into contact with brackish or salt water, raw seafood, or raw seafood juices.
