Woman loses all four limbs after consuming fish with deadly bacteria

Digital Desk: In a shocking incident, a woman from California has undergone the amputation of all four of her limbs after consuming tilapia fish contaminated with a deadly bacterium.

According to information shared by her friends, the victim, a 40-year-old mother, Laura Barajas, fell seriously ill after consuming the fish she had bought from a local market and prepared at home.

Barajas started feeling ill several days after eating the tilapia she had cooked for herself using fish she had purchased from a San Jose market, as stated by her friend Anna Messina in an interview with KRON.

 

Following an investigation, it was discovered that Barajas was infected with Vibrio vulnificus, a fatal bacterium frequently found in raw seafood and seawater. She spent two months in the hospital due to this infection, and most recently underwent life-saving surgery.

Messina, her friend described the severity of the situation stating, "She almost lost her life, and she was on a respirator. They used medication to induce her unconsciousness. Her lower lip was black, as were her feet and her fingers. Her kidneys were deteriorating, and she had complete sepsis... It's been incredibly difficult for all of us. It is terrible. Any of us could have experienced this."

Each year, 150 to 200 cases of Vibrio vulnificus are reported in the United States, with one in five of those affected dying as a result of the infection, according to the New York Post.

Dr. Natasha Spottiswoode, an infectious disease expert advised adopting reasonable precautions, such as refraining from swimming if you have a cut until it has completely healed and being cautious while engaging in high-risk activities and consuming high-risk foods, especially for those with compromised immune systems.