One person has been confirmed with the "flesh-eating bug" - necrotising fasciitis - in the Manawatu.
The
person is being treated in Palmerston North Hospital for the disease,
Mid Central Health spokesman Dennis Geddis confirmed, saying further
details could not be reveal out of respect for the patient's privacy.
The
case followed research released last year which showed necrotising
fasciitis had risen from fewer than 10 cases a year in 1990 to more than
70 cases in 2006.
Of the 812 cases in the Otago University study, 148, or 21 per cent died.
The
reason behind the increase is not known, but the research found Maori
and Pacific Islanders are particularly vulnerable, as are older people,
and males compared to females.
Necrotising fasciitis is a severe
bacterial infection commonly caused by Group A Streptococcus, which is
found in the throat and on the skin.
It rapidly destroys soft
tissue and the most severely affected people requiring extensive surgery
and sometimes amputation of limbs to prevent infection spreading.
The uncommon disease is feared because of its speed of onset, high fatality rate, and the severe tissue damage it causes.
The
pain is caused by a very rapid spread of the infection into deep soft
tissue and is not always obvious from first inspection of the skin.
Rapid treatment is absolutely vital to save lives.
NZN