Galveston man dies from Hurricane Harvey-related bacterial infection
Josue Zurita was 31
By Jonathan Martinez - Anchor/Reporter October 23, 2017
HOUSTON, TEXAS- The man who died last week from necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacterial infection that kills soft tissue, has been identified as Josue Zurita, who was 31.
Friends and family members on Monday provided his name and spoke about his life.
Zurita was a hard-working carpenter by trade who was recently repairing homes in the area following Hurricane Harvey.
“It's unbelievable,” said Brenda Avalos, a family friend. “We still don't accept that he's not here.”
Added another friend, Elizabeth Cortez, “It's sad. He was a really nice person."
Relatives said after getting sick and going to a hospital with a serious infection in his arm, Zurita’s condition quickly turned from bad to worse.
He was soon diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, often referred to as a flesh-eating bacteria.
What is flesh-eating bacteria infection?
According to the Center for Disease Control, the bacteria that Zurita was diagnosed with spreads quickly and destroys the body’s soft tissue.
“To this day, I can't believe what happened to him,” Cortez said.
“It spread up his arm and he went to UTMB on October 10, and unfortunately, despite the efforts of doctors, he died on (Oct. 16),” said Dr. Philip Keiser, with the Galveston County Local Health Authority.
Health officials said it's most likely that Zurita became infected when bacteria from Hurricane Harvey debris or floodwater entered his body through a cut or wound.
“This is a real tragedy,” Keiser said. “He was very unlucky and very unfortunate.”
Added Avalos, “He was always smiling. (He was) so nice to everyone and making friends everywhere.”
He seemed to be taking a lot of risks by failing to protect himself from exposure to the environmental and other toxins. All the pictures show that he was not wearing respiratory and other protective devices.
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GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Galveston man's death last week is being blamed on a flesh-eating bacteria contracted in Hurricane Harvey's floodwater.
Galveston County Health District said the 31-year-old man was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacterial infection that kills soft tissue. The man died on Oct. 16.
According to health officials, the man recently worked on repairing several homes damaged by Harvey flooding.
This marks another death stemming from a bacterial infection directly from Harvey. Nancy Reed, 77, died after falling in a home contaminated by flood water. Reed had contracted the virus, according to Harris County Medical Examiner's Office.
Another man in Missouri City had a mosquito bite infected as he kayaked through floodwaters. He underwent three surgeries but is on the road to recovery.
Medical officials emphasized proper wound care in preventing infections. They urged people to adhere to the following:
- Keep open wounds covered with clean, dry bandages until healed.
- Don't delay first aid of even minor, non-infected wounds (like blisters, scrapes or any break in the skin).
- Avoid contact with natural bodies of water (lakes, rivers, oceans) if you have an open wound or skin infection.
- Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if washing is not possible.
- Seek medical attention for redness, swelling or fever.