Florida man contracts flesh-eating bacteria while fishing in Gulf of Mexico

By Adriana Navarro, AccuWeather staff writer

A Florida man out fishing off the coast of Palm Harbor in the Gulf of Mexico contracted an infection with flesh-eating bacteria last Saturday.

WFTS reported Ozona, Florida, native Mike Walton is being treated for flesh-eating disease known as necrotizing fasciitis.

Walton was stuck by a fish hook on Saturday. By the next day, his hand had grown swollen and black blisters had grown. He was rushed to the burn unit once at the Tampa General Hospital. Luckily, they were able to save his life and his arm, which risked amputation.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that more than one type of bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis. According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology, that includes Vibrio vulnificus. This bacteria thrives in warm, brackish water and can cause infection through entering wounds or through the consumption of oysters.

Last year, the Florida Department of Health reported 42 Vibrio vulnificus cases and nine deaths.

Ozona resident Mike Walton contracted a flesh-eating disease, necrotizing fasciitis while fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. (GoFundMe / Maria Kharitonova / Eric Mc Lendon)

According to the CDC, 1 in 3 people with necrotizing fasciitis die from the infection.

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Risk of a Vibrio vulnificus infection is highest between May and October when the ocean, lake and river waters are warmer according to the CDC. These months coincide with hurricane season for the United States, emphasizing the importance to keep any wounds clean and out of warm waters.

People usually contract an infection through wading into warm waters with an open wound or eating infected shellfish. However, necrotizing fasciitis does not always accompany a Vibrio vulnificus infection.

Necrotizing fasciitis infected Mike Walton's hand after it was stuck by a fishing hook. (GoFundMe / Maria Kharitonova / Eric Mc Lendon)

There have been at least 389 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections from 2008 to 2018 and at least 99 deaths in Florida according to the Florida Department of Health.

The CDC estimates that the bacteria causes about 205 infections in the United States every year, and about one in seven people with a Vibrio vulnificus wound infection dies.

According to the CDC, the health threat "predominantly affects people with a compromised immune system or an underlying illness, especially liver disease."

Symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis can include but aren't limited to a quickly swelling are of skin, severe pain, fever and black spots on the skin.