State officials work to get to the bottom of a bloodstream infection that’s already killed 18 people in Wisconsin.
Director of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases for the Department of Health Services Stephanie Smiley says so far Elizabethkingia has only affected patients with compromised immune systems.
Smiley says when detected early Elizabethkingia can be treated with an antibiotic regimen when detected early.
Symptoms include fever, shortness of breath, chills, or cellulitis. If you are caring for someone who is immunocompromised, be sure to practice consistent handwashing and disinfect surfaces and objects on a regular basis. If you suspect and infection, contact your doctor immediately.
Smiley says her office has reached out to federal officials for additional resources to identify the source of the outbreak.
