Has anyone heard about the cases of flesh-eating bacteria on Maui? 6 people have contracted the disease and 3 have died. Anyone have any additional information?

Why do you ask?

Olaf:

We will be vacationing on Maui in July.

Anne

Don't go!

The bad news is that it has gotten worse..... good news is that its not as crowded.

That's old news from last summer the problem has gone away....go and enjoy paradise.

Here is a link to a recent article in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
http://starbulletin.com/2002/04/30/

Anthony-that was your brain.not your weiner.

Does this mean that people in Maui are not very clean? The article mentioned people practicing better hygein?

Just back from Maui. This story was front-page news.
Basically, it sounds like people have
contracted staph infections via a small cut or something, and because lots of folks wear open-toed shoes over there and such, if the cut is on your foot, well, if you're walking around nearly bare foot, then you're more prone to getting dirt in the wound, and then the staph (that's what I heard on their evening news)
Actually, right now dengue fever is much more prevalent than the flesh-eating virus. There's been 79 cases of dengue fever since October (spread via msoquitoes) and Maui has had more cases than any other Hawaiian islands.

as a tourist, you've probably got a better chance of winning the lottery than getting dengue or staph.
Dengue update:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/dengue-hawaii-oct2001.htm

Oh gosh, don't fret over this! I'm sure you would seek medical attention in the event you developed any of these symptoms:

• Flu like symptoms begin to occur, such as diarrhea,
nausea, fever, confusion, dizziness, weakness, and general malaise

• Intense thirst occurs as the body becomes dehydrated

• In general, you will probably feel worse than you've ever felt and not understand why

• The limb, or area of body experiencing pain
begins to swell, and may show a purplish rash

• The limb may begin to have large, dark marks, that will become blisters
filled with blackish fluid

• The wound may actually begin to appear necrotic with a bluish, white, or dark, mottled, flaky
appearance

• Blood pressure will drop severely

• the body begins to go into
toxic shock from the toxins the bacteria are giving off

• Unconsciousness will occur as the body becomes too weak to fight
off this infection

Go. Have a great time. Keep in mind the chances of you getting this are very small indeed.

flesh eating bacteria can attack you anywhere.

we're all going to die eventually, I for one wouldn't mind spending the last days of my life on maui.

speak for yourself, al - i'm gonna live forever!

my goal is to live forever.

so far, so good.

Please go to this article at the CDC for more information on Dengue Fever:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/dengue/index.htm

Dearest DrFeelGood: Get some rest, we're talking about necrotizing fascitis here, not dengue fever.

And how many cases of necrotizing faciitis have you seen in your career doctor? It's a group A Streptococcal infection. This is not a new illness, but has been know about since the Civil War. Most cases nowadays occur in people who inject IV drugs. What percentage of the people in Hawaii were IV drug users?

Dearest Dr(Quack)FeelGood: Umm, I think I have a pretty good grasp of what NF is, but thanks just the same for sharing your utterly false information (IV contraction).

The question banner clearly speaks of bacteria; why did you suppose a virus?
And why would it matter as to the number of cases I have seen? I have seen them - didn't imagine them.

Young, arrogant physician with no experience in the real world. Refer to the above post on VHF which says, "Actually, right now dengue fever is much more prevalent than the flesh-eating virus. There's been 79 cases of dengue fever since October (spread via msoquitoes) and Maui has had more cases than any other Hawaiian islands." This is why I recommended they go to the article at the CDC on Dengue Fever, you incredibly arrogant, pompous young MD. I know this will be hard for you to understand but you are not the FIRST person to actually have knowledge of medical problems and illnesses. Something I have found in young, inexperienced interns and MD's..... the absolute knowledge of the gods. Praise be to Zeus....

Young Doctor Moron

I refer you to the following article from the University of California:
http://pulm.imed.missouri.edu/ER/articles/CID_33_p0006.pdf

Dr. FG

Your silence is the best answer...now what famous man said that?