Most flesh-eating bacteria come from the same strains that give us common, mild to moderate infections that can easily be treated with antibiotics. However, there are times when these bacteria nestle between layers of the skin and start feeding on the surrounding tissue. Fortunately, cases of flesh-eating bacterial infections are rare, and the majority of patients will make a full recovery. However, there is one strain in particular that is more-dangerous and difficult to treat than the rest, and it’s spreading around the world.
Buruli Ulcer
This innocuous-sounding name represents a terrible infection that can cause huge, gaping wounds anywhere on the body. It is difficult to treat, particularly if it is not caught early, and victims are susceptible to being exposed to a variety of other infections along the way. While the mortality rate is low, those who are infected often end up facing months of surgery, going through intensive courses of antibiotics, and even amputation in some cases. Left untreated, the infection can spread rapidly until it ravages the body and ultimately leads to death if it is not killed off.
Rapid Spread
Cases of people infected with the Buruli ulcer have nearly tripled over the past few years, and that trend is expected to continue indefinitely. Unfortunately, researchers know very little about the bacteria that causes this infection, and it will take years to discover how it’s transmitted and how it can be contained. In the meantime, it is spreading around the world and finding its way into countries that have never reported cases before, and it’s only a matter of time before it hits the United States.
Some suggest that it is transmitted by water-borne insects as most people who are infected usually report symptoms a few days after swimming or fishing. However, it is unclear what insect is responsible, and it may turn out that multiple insects can be carriers. The good news is that it is unlikely that the infections can be transmitted from person to person, and the general consensus is that it is spread through a bite.
Symptoms
Initial exposure looks more like a bug bite than anything else. Localized swelling, redness and irritation usually form within a few minutes to a couple of hours after exposure. However, the area quickly develops a crater or ulcer that spreads from day to day. The ulcers are usually painless in the beginning, but they will not get better over time. Pain will usually increase as the infection penetrates deep into the flesh, and the bacteria can also start feeding on bone. Along the way, victims can experience nerve damage, weakness in the affected area, the onset of a fever and chills along with fatigue before getting gravely-ill.
Prevention
What makes this particular infection so dangerous is that there is no known source yet. Consequently, there is little that we can do to protect ourselves from exposure. Since it is thought to be carried by insects, our best line of defense at the moment is to make sure that our skin is exposed and that we’re wearing repellents during times of peak-insect activity.
Fortunately, the bulk of outbreaks are still confined to the tropics. However, this pathogen has spread from Australia and parts of Africa to countries around the world in just a few years, so it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be hearing a lot more about Buruli ulcers on our continent. Whether or not this reaches epidemic proportions depends on how quickly public health officials can respond, but things aren’t looking good at the moment.
This is just one example of hundreds of potentially-deadly pathogens that researchers know very little about. Unfortunately, some of the best responses to outbreaks come after a wave strikes and kills unfathomable numbers of people first. Let’s hope that this will not be the case with this bacteria. Let this remind all of us of our inherent-vulnerability to pandemics and the importance of being prepared when they strike.
