SAN DIEGO(AP) - Officials planned an autopsy Monday to determine what killed an 18-year-old Marine Corps recruit who developed a fast-spreading rash after 5,000 recruits received inoculations to stop the spread of a potentially lethal bacteria.
Amid growing concerns of an outbreak of Strep-A bacteria, officials at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot said Monday they were considering a "stand down," an unusual move that would temporarily cease all training at the base.
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Officials probe Marine recruit death amid fears of Strep-A outbreak
The Associated Press
Published 8:10 a.m. PST Monday, December 16, 2002
SAN DIEGO(AP) - Officials planned an autopsy Monday to determine what killed an 18-year-old Marine Corps recruit who developed a fast-spreading rash after 5,000 recruits received inoculations to stop the spread of a potentially lethal bacteria.
Amid growing concerns of an outbreak of Strep-A bacteria, officials at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot said Monday they were considering a "stand down," an unusual move that would temporarily cease all training at the base.
Pvt. Miguel Zavala, of Greenfield, died Sunday at the Naval Regional Medical Center hours after he sought treatment for a rash on his ankle. The rash spread over much of his body and Zavala developed pneumonia-like symptoms before he died, officials said.
Marine officials had decided prior to Zavala's death to provide the inoculations in response to an outbreak last week of Strep-A, which caused more than 60 recruits to be hospitalized.
"This can be the source of fatal pneumonia," said Navy Capt. J.D. Malone, director of medical services at the center. "That's why we're being so aggressive."
Infectious disease experts at the medical center do not believe Zavala's death is linked to the current outbreak, medical center spokesman Doug Sayers said.
Officials hoped to have a better idea of the cause of death after Monday's autopsy.
Although Strep-A, also known as streptococcal bacteria, is most commonly reflected in a sore throat and aches, it can cause necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease that attacks deep layers of tissue.
County health officials were working with Marine officials to control the spread of the disease, said Dr. Michelle Ginsberg, head of the county's Health Department's epidemiology unit.
"In such a group setting it is not unusual to have an outbreak of strep," Ginsberg said. "You have all those recruits from different parts of the country living in close quarters. It's very stressful, very physical."
Zavala's death was the third at the recruit depot in recent weeks.
The other two deaths followed strenuous training exercises and were not believed to be linked to the Strep-A outbreak, officials said.
Pvt. Neal Edwards, 18, of St. Clair, Mo., died Nov. 24 after collapsing during training on an obstacle course. Pvt. Samuel J. Bruss, 19, of Kenosha, Wis., died Thursday after survival training at the base swimming pool, where recruits were taught to swim while dressed in full combat gear.
I am at a loss for words to describe the sadness I feel for the loss of yet another young Marine Recruit. Pvt. Miguel Zavala, you did well and you will be missed. Thoughts and prayers are with Miguel, Samuel and Neal and their families and friends. Pray for the medical staff in San Diego to conquer this disease and prevent it from spreading to other recruits. Pray for the sick recruits to recover.