Public Health investigates death allegedly linked to “flesh-eating” bacteria

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health reported that it is investigating the death of a person who, according to preliminary versions, would have contracted a bacteria after consuming meat in a restaurant in the capital. Although the specific type of bacteria has not yet been confirmed, authorities indicated that it would be a strain popularly known as “flesh-eating bacteria” (Flesh Eating Bacteria), associated in the United States with several fatal cases. The complaint began circulating on social media and was received by the health authorities, who sent a team to gather information. The ministry announced that in the coming days it will offer an official report with the results of the investigation and details about the bacteria.

What is the “flesh-eater”?

The so-called “flesh-eating bacteria” is associated with Vibrio vulnificus, a microorganism capable of causing necrotizing fasciitis, a serious infection in which the affected tissue begins to die rapidly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bacteria can enter the body through open wounds in the skin that come into contact with contaminated water, or by consuming contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked seafood such as oysters. This infection progresses rapidly and requires immediate medical attention, as approximately 1 in 5 infected people die.