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Be careful handling fish....

Myco disease attack in Rhode Island

from the August, 2009 newsletter

It was still dark on the morning of Wednesday, June 3, when Bill Nolan went out to get the day’s supply of pogies in Narragansett Bay. As he did nearly every spring morning, Bill would catch a dozen stripers before heading home after daybreak, just when the average fishermen were just heading out to fish. But on this day, something would happen that brought a scare to Bill and his family. On Wednesday evening, Bill’s hand turned red and began to swell. Then a red line began to expand along his arm. “My hand blew up like a porkchop,” said Bill. “Almost before my eyes a red line started traveling right up my arm and this had me more than a bit concerned.” And it’s a good thing that he took quick action and went straight to the emergency room where the doctor put him on two IV bags of powerful antibiotics, and they sent his blood to the lab to be analyzed. "Fish Handler’s Disease" was the report that came back from the doctor. Myco. It has been written about here in this newsletter. There are two main types: Mycobacterium shottsii is the disease that effects striped bass from the Chesapeake. Then there’s the variation Mycobacterium marinum. This is what happened to bill. This bacteria is carried by most fish, crabs, oysters, and even barnacles within infected waters, and the Mycobacterium marinum bacteria can also be acquired by humans via a break in the skin such as a scratch, cut, bite, or puncture, while handling fish, marine life, or structures related to open waters. If the Mycobacterium are able to establish themselves within the breached skin area of a person, an infection referred to by researchers and doctors as Fish Handler’s Disease may develop. Two days later, Bill reported the infected area was still “somewhat in intense burning pain and quite swollen,” but the red line in his arm was receding. “I was my own stupidity that caused it,” said Bill. While I wear gloves most of the time, I have a habit of taking them off all the time while fishing. I will never take them off again.” Bill asked that other members be warned about the Myco danger. “This infection is out there and its serious,” he said. “So please, if you handle fish, wear gloves and watch small cuts and scrapes very carefully.” How can you protect yourself? • return any fish with skin lesions to the water • wear gloves when handling striped bass • take particular care if you have a cut, scrape, or abrasion on your hands or arms, and wash thoroughly with soap and water after coming into contact with fish or open water. Individuals whose immune systems are weakened or compromised because of disease or immune suppression therapy should be especially careful to avoid wounds or abrasions.