By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY three weeks after being asked about a deadly bacteria reported to have been found in the Bahamas, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez has finally acknowledged that a Bahamian man is infected with vibrio vulnificus.

The Tribune was alerted to the possibility of the flesh eating bacteria being in the Bahamas in the first week of October, after the family of the infected Nassau man, told this newspaper that he had contracted the disease while in the coastal waters off Andros. He was in hospital in Nassau.

One family member described it as a “very, very serious situation” and said the victim was “very ill.”

The salt water borne bacteria, called vibrio vulnificus, has been making headlines in Florida – where it has killed 10 people and infected another 27 this year.

Tribune reporters have written numerous articles on the bacteria, including a first hand account from a tourist who claims to also have contracted the bacteria while in New Providence.

But Ministry of Health officials, as well as Dr Gomez, continued to deny the reports. In fact, on October 9th, when asked about the case Dr Gomez said he would be “very surprised” if the vibrio vulnificus is the disease, as such an organism, to his knowledge, does not cause such symptoms.

However, on Monday, Dr Gomez admitted that a man, who was recently pigeon shooting in Andros, had contracted the bacteria. He said the Government is testing marshy water where the victim was hunting.

Minister of Marine Resources V Alfred Gray also admitted that the government is concerned about the possibility of the flesh eating bacteria thriving in Bahamian waters.