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American Morning
Death of Marine Possibly from Strep
Aired December 17, 2002 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: An 18-year-old Marine recruit in Southern California is dead, and there are fears the cause could be a rare and serious infection. Did Private Miguel Zavala have Strep A, and if so, are his fellow Marines at risk?
Fifty of them are being treated for bacterial infections, and 5,000 recruits have been inoculated. Now this same bacteria, infects millions of Americans. Thousands of these cases are severe. Let's turn to our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta to help us better understand what these Marines might face and what the rest of us might as well -- good morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. Yes, what we know so far is, at least with Private Zavala, the -- actually, Group A Streptococcus, the type of bacteria that you are talking about, hasn't been confirmed yet. An autopsy will be performed in that unfortunate case.
There's another gentlemen in the hospital who's in the intensive care unit who does have confirmed invasive Group A Streptococcus. Paula, exactly as you mentioned, Group A Strep or Streptococcus bacteria is a fairly common bacteria. People get sore throats from it, people can get strep throat from it. That's a fairly common form.
There is a more invasive form. About 10,000 cases a year, roughly or so, 9,400 cases last year, the more invasive form, in the more severe cases, it can cause the sort of necrotizing flesh-eating bacteria that we heard so much about a couple of years ago, and still continue to hear about.
It can also cause Streptococcus Toxic Shock Syndrome. That's basically where this infection becomes so overwhelming it really shuts down the entire immune system of someone, possibly leading to death, possibly even leading to a death of a young, otherwise healthy person.
Let's take a look at some of the early symptoms of such a severe infection if someone were to have it. Fever -- these are actually some of the later symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome. Fever, dizziness, confusion, and a flat red rash over large areas of the body.
Earlier than that, even before that, you would get some severe pain and swelling, and redness at the wound site. That would precede some of those other symptoms. In the case that you just mentioned, Paula, Private Zavala, he actually had an ankle rash. He was being seen for that, just a simple ankle rash, and then subsequently, three hours later, actually died from an overwhelming infection. That just gives you a sense of how quickly this particular bacteria can work -- Paula.
ZAHN: That's terrible. Do you know if there's any way you can prevent this, the more serious version of Strep A?
GUPTA: The way that you prevent the more serious one is still the same way that you prevent the more common type as well, and that is trying to reduce the risk of transmission.
Let me just make one point about the Marines that are sort of often closely quartered in barracks. Despite the fact that they're young and healthy, they are often sort of in such close proximity that it makes it much easier for bacteria to actually spread back and forth.
But the way to prevent this, really, is still good hand washing, Paula. We talk about this so much, and I don't it in a belittling way, because it is so important, just good hand washing if you're coughing and sneezing, to remember that hand washing.
If you have a sore throat that's persistent, it doesn't seem to be responding to any of the over-the-counter medications, go ahead and get your throat swabbed.
And if it is Strep, you probably want to stay home so you don't spread that to others as well. But really, risk of transmission is just basically avoiding contact, avoiding a chance for that bacteria to spread from person to person.
ZAHN: We will listen to you on this one, Sanjay, thanks.
GUPTA: Yes. Important. Thanks, Paula.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 17, 2002 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: An 18-year-old Marine recruit in Southern California is dead, and there are fears the cause could be a rare and serious infection. Did Private Miguel Zavala have Strep A, and if so, are his fellow Marines at risk?
Fifty of them are being treated for bacterial infections, and 5,000 recruits have been inoculated. Now this same bacteria, infects millions of Americans. Thousands of these cases are severe. Let's turn to our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta to help us better understand what these Marines might face and what the rest of us might as well -- good morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. Yes, what we know so far is, at least with Private Zavala, the -- actually, Group A Streptococcus, the type of bacteria that you are talking about, hasn't been confirmed yet. An autopsy will be performed in that unfortunate case.
There's another gentlemen in the hospital who's in the intensive care unit who does have confirmed invasive Group A Streptococcus. Paula, exactly as you mentioned, Group A Strep or Streptococcus bacteria is a fairly common bacteria. People get sore throats from it, people can get strep throat from it. That's a fairly common form.
There is a more invasive form. About 10,000 cases a year, roughly or so, 9,400 cases last year, the more invasive form, in the more severe cases, it can cause the sort of necrotizing flesh-eating bacteria that we heard so much about a couple of years ago, and still continue to hear about.
It can also cause Streptococcus Toxic Shock Syndrome. That's basically where this infection becomes so overwhelming it really shuts down the entire immune system of someone, possibly leading to death, possibly even leading to a death of a young, otherwise healthy person.
Let's take a look at some of the early symptoms of such a severe infection if someone were to have it. Fever -- these are actually some of the later symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome. Fever, dizziness, confusion, and a flat red rash over large areas of the body.
Earlier than that, even before that, you would get some severe pain and swelling, and redness at the wound site. That would precede some of those other symptoms. In the case that you just mentioned, Paula, Private Zavala, he actually had an ankle rash. He was being seen for that, just a simple ankle rash, and then subsequently, three hours later, actually died from an overwhelming infection. That just gives you a sense of how quickly this particular bacteria can work -- Paula.
ZAHN: That's terrible. Do you know if there's any way you can prevent this, the more serious version of Strep A?
GUPTA: The way that you prevent the more serious one is still the same way that you prevent the more common type as well, and that is trying to reduce the risk of transmission.
Let me just make one point about the Marines that are sort of often closely quartered in barracks. Despite the fact that they're young and healthy, they are often sort of in such close proximity that it makes it much easier for bacteria to actually spread back and forth.
But the way to prevent this, really, is still good hand washing, Paula. We talk about this so much, and I don't it in a belittling way, because it is so important, just good hand washing if you're coughing and sneezing, to remember that hand washing.
If you have a sore throat that's persistent, it doesn't seem to be responding to any of the over-the-counter medications, go ahead and get your throat swabbed.
And if it is Strep, you probably want to stay home so you don't spread that to others as well. But really, risk of transmission is just basically avoiding contact, avoiding a chance for that bacteria to spread from person to person.
ZAHN: We will listen to you on this one, Sanjay, thanks.
GUPTA: Yes. Important. Thanks, Paula.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
