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CNN Live Saturday

West Nile Virus Outbreak Worst in U.S. History

Aired August 10, 2002 - 18:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: One of Louisiana's top medical officials says nearly all seven people who recently died from the West Nile virus were older and had other health problems. Eighty-five people have been confirmed as having the mosquito-transmitted disease in that state. And Mississippi health officials are trying to find out if the virus killed one person there.
Well, this is the worst West Nile outbreak to date in the United States. The infection has been confirmed in 136 people across the country.

Massachusetts health officials are blaming a flesh eating bacteria for the death of a fisherman. Phil Lipoff with CNN affiliate WHDH in Boston brings us that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LINDA HOLT, WIDOW OF AL HOLT: He brought laughter to my life and love. That's all you can ask for.

PHIL LIPOFF, REPORTER, WHDH (voice-over): But now Linda Holt would like more. She would like more time with her husband of 17 years.

Al Holt, Jr. lived and breathed fishing - he would go every day. But one day in mid July he came home complaining of pain in the pinkie on his left hand. But no one - not even his doctors - were prepared for what was about to happen.

HOLT: The rest of his digits swelled and his hands swelled.

LIPOFF: It was a rare, fast-moving flesh eating bacteria called Vibrio Damsela (ph). Doctors aren't exactly sure how Al came in contact with it but they are pretty sure it happened out on the water.

By the time Linda and Al left Toby Hospital (ph) in Wareham for the second time in an ambulance bound for New England Medical Center, Linda said she could actually see the bacteria moving up her husband's arm.

HOLT: You saw it go pink and then you saw it go black - pink and black. You saw it traveling up.

LIPOFF: Four emergency surgeries, even an amputated arm and doctors still couldn't save him. The bacteria was attacking his lungs and other vital organs. Now his wife wants other fishermen to be more aware and to be safe.

HOLT: If you're on the ocean and you come home and you have open cuts - wear gloves.

UNKNOWN MALE: That's the problem with an open wound.

LIPOFF: A small open wound like the one doctors are certain allowed the bacteria to get into Al's body - something that Steve Conney is taking very seriously.

STEVE CONNEY, FISHERMAN: It's a rare disease and it seems like nobody really knows what caused it. So, of course, it would raise a red flag in my mind if something happened.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: That was Phil Lipoff with CNN affiliate WHDH in Boston, Massachusetts.

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