Joplin Tornado Survivors Battle Aggressive Fungal Infections - from another egroup

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Joplin Tornado Survivors Battle Aggressive Fungal Infections

This is terrible.Prayers goin up.

"The infection is aggressive, and once it invades wounds..."

Five of Joplin's tornado victims have been treated for a fungal infection of the skin called Zygomycosis.

People who have been injured in the Joplin tornado are at risk of developing the infection. The infection is caused by soil or vegetative matter that becomes embedded under the skin, according to the AP. People who have diabetes or a weakened immune system are at greatest risk.

The infection is aggressive, and once it invades wounds it quickly spreads and kills healthy tissue. The best treatment is to surgically remove all of the affected tissues, according to Emedicine.medscape.com. The underlying medical conditions should also be controlled, and anti-fungal medication should be administered.

Three of the five Joplin victims who have been treated for the infection have died, according to the AP. The infection has a mortality rate of 50 percent. The people began showing up with the infection about a week after the tornado.

Officials stress that all of the deceased patients had other medical conditions.

The infection can enter the skin of workers who are injured while removing debris if they cut or scratch themselves. All cuts need to be cleaned well and bandaged to help prevent infection.

Officials are advising people with injuries to carefully check any cuts they have for signs of an infection. If signs are present, seek treatment immediately