Public healthFive Joplin survivors die of mysterious fungal infection
After being hit by a massive tornado that destroyed much of Joplin, Missouri, several residents suffered from a fungal infection that killed five people; following the 22 May twister that ravaged Joplin, many residents suffered from splinters, cuts, and other minor injuries that eventually resulted in a rare fungus infection
After being hit by a massive tornado that destroyed much of Joplin, Missouri, several residents suffered from a fungal infection that killed five people.
Following the 22 May twister that ravaged Joplin, many residents suffered from splinters, cuts, and other minor injuries that eventually resulted in a rare fungus infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still investigating the causes of the infection, but believe that thirteen people contracted the mucormycetes-borne illness.
The CDC has said that it most often sees this type of infection after natural disasters like hurricanes, but has yet to see it occur after a tornado. The fungus that infected the injured is typically found in soil, decaying wood, and other organic matter.
On the CDC’s blog, Molly Gayden, explains, “When people sustain massive traumatic injuries, it puts so much stress on the body that it becomes difficult to fight off infections. This paves the way for germs—also called pathogens—which can infect humans when the body’s natural defenses are weakened. Cuts, scrapes, burns, and even a splinter can allow pathogens to enter the body through the skin.”
She continues, “The events that occurred in Joplin created the perfect environment for exposure to these pathogens, and some injured survivors began showing signs of an unusual wound infection.”
The CDC’s investigation found that none of the fungal infection victims sustained their injuries, which Rob Chappel, the Jasper County coroner, said is a relief.
“It’s about what we expected,” he said.
Of the thirteen infected, each had an average of four wounds. Ten patients required intensive care and of those five died. The ages of the infected ranged widely from thirteen to seventy-six years old.
