Lake Bacteria Consumes Boy

(June 25) -- A 14-year-old boy is fighting off a flesh-eating bacteria he may have picked up from swimming in a local lake. Matthew McKinney of Hope Mills, N.C., is infected with the common bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum, that is spreading through his body, according to a report from local ABC-affiliate WTVD-TV. The bacteria is found in the sand and mud at the bottom of lakes. "It's everywhere, it's natural," Matthew's father, Brian McKinney, told CNN. "The reason it's so rare is because typically...it doesn't affect you."

abclocal.go.com.../local&id=6882268< br /> This is scary to think about the next time you wanna take a dip in the lake.
Why is this bacteria effecting humans now, when it usually doesn't?

[edit on 25-6-2009 by joe82]

reply to post by joe82


Per the story, there have been about 150 cases since the 1920's. This is a sad situation, but just another of those twice a year isolated cases. I hope that they are able to take care of the boy.