Mortal infection spreads after Florence hurricane, there is another victim

A resident of North Carolina died due to a bacterial infection, which became infected in his own yard, dismantling debris after Hurricane Florence.

Фото: Depositphotos

Ron Phelps scraped his leg when clearing the yard a few days after the hurricane, writes wsoctv.com. An infection got into the wound, and the doctors had to amputate the leg, but this was not enough to save a person’s life.

The Phelps family talked about his illness on page Facebookdedicated to the discussions and memories of the local community, which almost 9 thousands of people subscribed to. The family shared his photographs and memories of Ron’s life.

His niece, Paula Phelps Turner, announced the man's death in a post on the page: “I regret to tell you that Uncle Ronnie passed away peacefully this morning. He loved to be friends with each and every one of you.”

David Howard, deputy director of public health for New Hanover County, said, "It's really about bacterial infections that are common in the environment and are getting into flood waters that people aren't typically exposed to often or for long."

The Department of Health has ordered tetanus vaccinations for those involved in debris removal and street cleanup after a disaster - all of whom may also be at higher risk of contracting bacterial infections.

According to Howard, people with a weakened immune system, as well as the elderly, are at particular risk. Officials warned residents to try not to come into contact with flood waters in order to avoid bacterial or other infectious infections.

Authorities also warned about mosquitoes, mold and snakes, which became a problem after the storm.

Wilma Subra, a chemist and environmental health specialist from Louisiana, says residents should be very careful with the pollution in their homes and yards. She warns of the importance of using protective equipment when cleaning areas.

“This is what happened after Katrina,” Subra says. “They would come back there and get boils on their legs from exposure to the sewage.”

There were 37 deaths in North Carolina and eight in South Carolina, all related to Hurricane Florence, according to a statement released by Gov. Roy Cooper's office. Most of the deaths occurred due to vehicles becoming stranded in floodwaters, but some were associated with storm cleanup.

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