
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994                    TAG: 9406100726 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A1    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940610                                 LENGTH: PORTSMOUTH

FLESH-DESTROYING BACTERIA HAVE TURNED UP LOCALLY\

{LEAD} At least four people have been treated in Hampton Roads for the same strain of streptococcus A that has fueled scare headlines around the world after several people - who went untreated too long - died from the flesh-destroying disease.

All of the local cases were treated over the past three months at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. None of the patients is now hospitalized. And there are no known active cases of the disease in the region.

{REST} But hospital officials expressed concern Thursday that mere word of the presence of the disease would spark unnecessary fear.

The infection is caused by a rare strain of the streptococcus A bacteria called necrotising fasciiti.

It's not new, but it is so rare that many physicians are unfamiliar with it. And while other diseases like hepatitis B and influenza kill far more people, the ability of this disease to ravage a body has made it frightening.

The virus spreads rapidly. At its worst, it turns pieces of flesh into lifeless, black lumps. Identified and treated early, it's curable. But its rarity poses dual problems: Some doctors have not recognized it and others have mistaken it for something more common.

On Thursday, Michigan authorities said a 33-year-old Ann Arbor man had become the second confirmed victim in the state to die from the disease in the past two months. The infection has claimed the lives of at least 11 people in Britain this year.

The disease is not considered contagious although its cause is unclear. About 500 to 1,500 cases are reported each year in the United States, and outbreaks are isolated.

``The naval hospital has infectious disease specialists,'' said spokesman Phil Garcia in Portsmouth. ``They have the knowledge and experience to treat patients with special diseases like this.''

Little information about the people treated locally was available Thursday night.

Garcia said that in two of the cases, patients came directly to the hospital. Two other cases were referrals from other Hampton Roads hospitals.

It was not known if the local cases were military personnel or civilians, but the naval hospital generally treats only active-duty personnel, retirees and their families.

by CNB