UNDATED (WTAQ) – The state Department of Health Services says more people have died with infections caused by Elizabethkingia bacteria.
Seventeen deaths have been reported since the outbreak began in November. Two more deaths since last week.
Dr. Michael Landrum is an Infectious Disease Specialist with Bellin Health and says there are many unanswered questions at this time.
“The big question is where is it coming from and right now they’re still doing investigations to determine that.”
Although doctors and scientists are having a hard time figuring out how it’s spreading, they do know some aspects about the bacteria.
“It is treatable,” Landrum states. “It’s predominately affecting those folks who have chronic medical problems and perhaps are even what we call immune suppressed.”
The symptoms of the blood infection include high fevers, fatigue, and weakness.
The bacteria outbreak, that’s only affecting the state of Wisconsin at this point, started in November 2015.
