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Flesh-eating bacteria: Any cases in Virginia?

Posted at 6:28 PM, May 15, 2012
and last updated 2012-05-15 18:32:01-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - A blood drive was held in Georgia Tuesday for a young graduate student. Aimee Copeland, 24, is fighting to survive, after contracting a flesh-eating bacterium from a river near Augusta.

The bacterium, which was in the water, entered her body through a gash in her leg.
That leg had to be amputated and her fingers will have to be removed, too - as the virus has spread.

Dr. Michael Edmond, Chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Virginia Commonwealth University, joined CBS 6 News on the set Tuesday to talk about the case, and how often he sees cases like Copeland's.

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