A woman’s trip to visit her daughter in Melbourne has taken a dark turn after she mysteriously contracted a horrible flesh-eating disease.
Carmel Rodrigo from Sri Lanka visited Australia for the first time and went to see her daughter Gayathri Perera and her family in Melbourne.
The 74-year-old has been here since January this year and has enjoyed months of family time and the views. Unfortunately, last month he became “delirious” one night, according to his daughter.
“He was screaming in pain and his hand was all swollen, turning slightly blue,” Perera told Yahoo News.
Her mother was rushed to the hospital and, after waiting several hours, Mrs. Rodrigo began to lose feeling in her arm.
Carmel Rodrigo (pictured) visited Australia for the first time and went to see her daughter Gayathri Perera and her family in Melbourne in January.
Mrs. Rodrigo (pictured with her daughter) contracted a fatal disease called Buruli ulcer and had to have her left hand amputated.
Doctors told Mrs Perera it was an infection, but “they couldn’t recognize what type”.
‘The spread was very rapid. They told me to pray because she only had a 10 percent chance of surviving,” she said.
They managed to get a response and were told that Mrs. Rodrigo had contracted a deadly flesh-eating disease called Buruli ulcer.
According to the Victorian Department of Health, Buruli ulcer is an infection that damages the skin and soft tissues.
It is primarily transmitted through mosquitoes, but has been detected in other animals in several states.
Mrs Rodrigo has had her left hand amputated and remains sedated in hospital after doctors warned her her pain would be “unbearable” if she were conscious.
While it is unclear how Ms. Rodrigo contracted the infection, all Ms. Perera can do is wait for her mother to get better.
TO GoFundMe The page has been created to help with the financial stress of her mother’s medical bills.
“Please help us get Carmel back to her strength to fight this horrible disease and get back to her usual happy, smiling self,” Perera said on the GoFundMe page.
More commonly known as “flesh-eating disease,” Buruli ulcer is an infection “caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium (M.) ulcerans.”
Health officials have taken a close look at mosquitoes as the main species responsible for transmitting the infection.
“There is increasing evidence that mosquitoes and opossums play a role in transmitting the infection,” health authorities say.
‘Buruli ulcer is spreading geographically across Victoria and is no longer restricted to specific locations; however, the overall risk of transmission is considered low.
“The number of cases in Victoria varies greatly from year to year, but numbers have risen to between 200 and 340 cases per year since 2017.”
Buruli ulcer is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, but has been detected in other animals in several states.
Officials have outlined ways that can increase a person’s chances of becoming infected, such as those on properties with possums, ponds and certain types of native plants.
Those with jobs that keep them outdoors for long periods of time are also at risk, as well as using well water for bathing or gardening.
Fortunately, the infection is not transmitted from person to person.
