It has been observed recently that there has been a skin infection spreading in the China town area of New York State due to the exposure of raw fish in the body. The Department of Health has been informed about the same and people who work in the Chinatown market of the Manhattan area are advised to wear waterproof gloves when they touch the raw seafood.
Already more than thirty people have been infected when they came in contact with the “fish tank granuloma” and got infected by a bacteria called as the Mycobacterium marinum. The symptoms of the skin infection are the tender and red lumps on the body which leads to swelling and pain in the hands and arms. This swelling and lump makes the movements of the hand difficult.
Mycobacterium marinum is a very rare form of bacteria and the bacteria always look for a cut or a wound on the body so that it can easily enter the body through the wound. This bacterium affects the skin if the person touches the aquarium or the fish. People who swim do not have to worry as the chance of getting infected from the well maintained swimming pool is impossible as the pool hygiene and cleanliness is regularly followed along with the proper chlorination of the water. Mycobacterium marinum is a very rare form of infection that can occur worldwide and is caused due to the exposure of the body to the aquarium or the raw fish that has salt water on it. This infection can never be seen in children as it is very rare and is an adult disease.
If the patient ignores the above symptoms, the patients have to undergo surgery to treat this condition. Early stages of the infection were misunderstood by the health officials as the outbreak of measles, but later the correct reason for the infection was diagnosed. The antibiotics are advised and they should be consumed immediately as soon some redness or difficulty in movement is seen.
Dealing with the skin infection
- People try Ayurveda and home remedies to cure this infection, but antibiotics and proper medication have to start as soon as the disease is diagnosed. Some people ignored it earlier, but later when they diagnosed it, it went deep down till the bones making them critically infected. Prevention is advised to all, who work in the Chinatown, lower Manhattan area and the officials from the Health Department have told people to wash their fingers and wear gloves that can prevent the bacteria from entering the skin. People at home who eat fish are also warned and informed to wear gloves while they cook fish and other seafood at home.
- The confirmation is yet to come but the infection is predicted to be emerged from one of three areas Manhattan’s Chinatown, Flushing, Queens and the Brooklyn’s sunset park. This skin infection cannot be caused by eating any fish or seafood. Avoid any saltwater activities or touching raw fish if you have any wounds or cuts on your body.
