An Ohio tourist contracts flesh-eating bacteria in Florida – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports



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TAMPA, FLA. (WSVN) – An Ohio man ended up in hospital after contracting a deadly bacteria that eats flesh while traveling to Florida.

According to the WFTS, Barry Briggs went to Florida as part of a boat trip to Tampa with his brother-in-law.

Briggs said his foot had begun to swell after the trip, but that he had been able to return home to Ohio before being taken to the hospital.

Briggs was diagnosed with narcotic fasciitis, or a flesh-eating infection. Doctors believe that the infection was caused by vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium found in the seawater.

Briggs nearly lost her foot because of the disease, but fortunately the doctors managed to save her.

"Once this thing took off, and it took off quickly apparently, it was getting me an inch at the hour," Briggs said. "I'm incredibly lucky to have all my toes, my foot, to be alive."

Briggs is not the only one to catch a flesh-eating bacteria. Just last week, a Florida fisherman announced the same thing after nearly losing his hand.

The Centers for Disease Control say there are 700 to 1,200 cases like this every year in the United States. However, they think this is also underreported.

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