OPINION (BIN) – East-Coast beachgoers have been faced with a Biblical threat this summer as a plague of flesh-eating bacteria lurk in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It was reported on Saturday that Dave Bennet, a Tennessee man visiting Florida died just 48-hours after contracting an infection while swimming at a beach in Destin. Twelve hours after being in the water, the man began to complain of fever, chills and some cramping. The man’s daughter stated that awareness of the disease is essential to its treatment.
“There is not enough education out there about the bacteria in the water. There needs to be signs posted at every beach, every city and state park, and every bayou stating that ‘due to naturally occurring bacteria in the water people with open wounds or compromised immune systems should not enter,’” Cheryl Wiygul, Bennet’s daughter, wrote on her Facebook page. One other person died earlier this month in Florida from the flesh-eating disease. Carolyn “Lynn” Fleming, age 77, fell in the water at Coquina Beach near Bradenton, injuring her leg. Last month, Kylei Brown, 12, almost lost her leg when she scraped her toe and was infected with the bacteria while vacationing at a Florida Panhandle beach. READ MORE
