Bacteria blamed for fish kills
October 8, 1999
Government announced today that the bacteria Streptococcus iniae was found to be responsible for the deaths of thousands of reef fish on Barbados south, south-east, and east coasts.
The bacteria was isolated by Dr. Hugh Fergusson of the University of Sterling.
S. iniae is known to have also passed from fish to human beings and as a result, government has temporarily closed the reef-fish fishery until further notice. People who are handling dead fish were urged to wear protective equipment to avoid coming into contact with the fish body.
People infected with this bacteria were known to have suffered from cellulitis, infective endocarditis, meningitis, and probable septic arthitis (septic means anything which produces pus).
Other useful links:
Mortality
and Morbidity Weekly Report on Streptococcus iniae
Invasive infection due to Streptococcus iniae: A new or previously
unrecognised disease
Special
Report: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Management
of Streptococcal infections in hybrid striped bass and tilapia
