Survivor warns of deadly flesh-eating bacteria found in the Gulf

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A summer day at the beach turned into a life-threatening battle for a Lafayette man who contracted Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but dangerous flesh-eating bacterium that lives in warm, salty waters and can also be contracted from raw seafood.

Jeremy Noel, 47, said a dip in the Gulf during a trip to Mississippi nearly cost him his life.

“I was shivering, I couldn’t walk, lost all control of bodily functions,” Noel recalled.

Doctors later discovered that cuts on his foot had allowed the bacteria to enter his body.

“What I was told coming out was basically they were going to amputate my leg in 24 hours if I hadn’t gotten any signs of improvement,” Noel said.

Although he survived the infection more than 14 years ago, Noel is still living with lasting health effects.

“The lymphedema, arthritis, I have nerve damage throughout my body. Muscle damage and actually recurring tumors because of my lymph nodes being affected,” Noel said.

Doctors say Vibrio infections can become severe quickly and urge beachgoers to take precautions.

“This is a very serious bacteria,” said Dr. Olivia Ragusa with Baton Rouge General Hospital. “It can get really bad quickly, and so you need to seek immediate medical help because it can be life-threatening.”

Health officials recommend avoiding saltwater exposure if you have open wounds, covering cuts or scrapes with waterproof bandages, and steering clear of raw seafood, which can also carry the bacteria.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, there have been 17 reported cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections in the state this year alone. Four of those patients died — a higher rate than normal.

“Don’t think that just because you’re healthy, you can’t get this bacteria,” Dr. Ragusa added. “It can infect any kind of open sore that you have, so make sure you’re being very careful.”

Despite years of health struggles, Noel said he’s thankful for the support of his family. 

Noel’s family has launched a GoFundMe page to help Noel with ongoing medical expenses.

The first documented case of Vibrio vulnificus infection in the United States was reported in 1979. Today, experts say awareness is the most powerful tool in preventing future infections.

Latest News