Bay County, Fla. (WMBB) – It appears that others are fighting an infection caused by the so-called carnivorous virus.
Benjamin West went fishing for crab and mullet on the coastal waterways of Port St. Joe on Saturday, according to Gofundme and Facebook accounts.
When he asked for a doctor’s appointment on Monday, he was told it was cellulitis, but he did not respond to treatment.
On Tuesday, Ben went to the emergency room at Ascension Sacred Heart Bay, where he was diagnosed with vibrio vulnificus.
According to his fiancé who set up a GoFundMe account, Ben has already undergone two surgeries to save his leg.
She says doctors said that if Ben hadn’t been to the hospital when he did, the virus would have spread over his waist.
Five people died in Florida this year on Vibrio, while two in Bay County.
I caught the virus while fishing on St. George Island. Others signed it up by eating oysters.
State health guidelines urge people with open wounds to avoid warm salt and brackish water.
And those with weakened immune systems should not eat raw oysters or shellfish.
We’ll keep you updated on Ben West’s case.
If you want to contribute to his gofundme, you can do so by clicking here.
