Juneau man victim of flesh-eating bacteria

9:54 AM, Jul 5, 2012   |    comments
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JUNEAU, Alaska -- A Juneau man is in a Seattle hospital where he is being treated for flesh-eating bacteria.

The Juneau Empire says Ruben Pereyra was flown to Seattle's Harborview Memorial Hospital nearly two weeks ago, where he remains in stable condition.

MORE: Flesh-eating bacteria victim getting home renovations

Necrotizing Fasciitis is a rare, deadly condition. It happens when the skin is somehow broken and a naturally occurring bacteria gets into the body. The bacteria entered Pereyra's system through a splinter. He may lose his arm.

The disease has been in the national news lately as the case of 24-year-old Georgia college student Aimee Copeland captured attention as she battled the flesh-eating bacteria. She lost her left leg, right foot and both hands.

Copeland recently left the hospital for a rehabilitation facility.

Associated Press