Officials unable to confirm woman died of Vibrio

By Chris Paschenko

The Daily News

Published September 18, 2010

PORT BOLIVAR — Officials are unable to confirm whether a woman’s death last week was caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a saltwater strain of flesh-eating bacteria.

Ginger Ling, 57, of Port Bolivar, died Sept. 7 of necrotizing fasciitis, according to the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a condition caused by several kinds of so-called “flesh-eating” bacteria, including Vibrio, which is common in warm salt water worldwide.

Ling cleaned shellfish, scaled flounder and ate lobster Sept. 7.

Ling’s immune system was severely weakened by rheumatoid arthritis, her daughter Tammy Bage said.

Vibrio vulnificus, which is found in oysters and other shellfish during the summer months, is a bacterium that is a rare cause of illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People with weakened immune systems, especially chronic liver disease, are at risk for Vibrio vulnificus infections when eating raw or undercooked seafood or if they bathe a cut or scrape in marine waters, the center said.

The Galveston County Health District tracks Vibrio cases, Kurt Koopmann, the district’s spokesman, said.

Tests done in Ling’s case at the University of Texas Medical Branch were unable to confirm whether she died of Vibrio, Koopmann said Friday. No autopsy was performed after Ling’s death. Relatives didn’t want one, Bage said.

The medical branch reported four cases of necrotizing fasciitis last year, none of which was fatal, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Ling’s relatives held a memorial service at First United Methodist Church in Port Bolivar, Bage said.

“It was standing-room only,” Bage said. “People waited outside to get in. There was an outpouring of emotion.”

Ling worked at American National Insurance Co., and employees shared stories of how Ling helped others, including becoming a surrogate grandmother to another family that experienced a loss, Bage said.

“We didn’t know mom was doing that, even as bad as she felt from the (rheumatoid arthritis),” Bage said.

After cooking a fresh, seafood dinner Sunday evening, Ling was admitted Monday to the medical branch, Bage said.

“She had a lunch packed, ready to go back to work on Tuesday,” Bage said. “She thought she was coming home on Monday. It was a terrible loss of life.”

Port Bolivar residents have been supportive of Ling’s family, Bage said.

“There’s been someone there every night,” she said. “It’s a good community.”

(News Media: For more information contact Kurt Koopmann, GCHD Public Information Officer, 409-938-2211 or kkoopman@gchd.org)