The Organism That Attacks Both People And Fish | Diagnosis Unknown 12 | Real Responders

A mysterious organism infests the waterways of North Carolina, attacking not only the fish, but also the fishermen.

[TheLooterArmy]

It's very discouraging to see the doctors and researchers doubting the validity of the patients claims before they even met them.

[hi.moriarty]

Hats off to Dr. Shoemaker for what he said at the end of the video! "Skepticism in the face of obvious abnormalities is inappropriate." And for being a country doctor personality...for working on a "hunch"

My only question throughout the entire video was this: Why wasn't the CDC called in right from the get-go? I mean...way back, years Before when they DIDN'T have a level 3 lab. The Very Fact that they even Needed one was a siren call in my opinion.

[slickwillie]

I traveled to Venice in the early 80's and got a lesson on raw sewage being dumped directly into the canals. It's amazing all those folks aren't dead or dying.

[SamanthaVimes]

I love that the GP who was worried he didn't know enough to help his patients figured out a way to treat them just by linking a known medicine used for toxic removal to try.

[marilynmcdonald]

Those scientists deserve high recognition. How sad that in their work they have become ill. And the poor fishermen who have such illness due to their occupation. What a totally sad story.

[kandiwolfe]

Thank heaven that we still have people in these fields that truly care about people and their health and are willing to go the extra mile to help their patients!!

[harles]

That was a very impressive group of researchers that were dedicated to helping others recover from a debilitating organisms effects, even to their own detriment, great people! Thanks for your efforts!

[windstalker]

About 5 years ago I went kiteboarding in the Lower Columbia across from Longview,  Wa. After spending about 2 hours in the water I had multiple small lesions on my arms. It was a while back and I don't remember any disorientation or other ailments. but my eyes were bloodshot and watering heavily. I assumed it was the pollution and never went back.
sounds suspiciously like this...
Whatever it was, it's so very wrong that we use our waterways as waste and sewage dumping grounds.

[kittybitts]

Those poor fishermen! God bless them and their families.

[myfirstnamemylastname]

I was a travel nurse who had taken an assignment in Edenton North Carolina right when this was happening until today I had no idea. How incredibly lucky I was. I was staying in someone's vacation Cottage right on the water because it was the off-season and the travel company found that housing for me. Had it been the warm weather I might have been swimming and I was literally 30 yards from the water at the most. So it would have been a pretty frequent swim I think. There was a doc half a block away that was shared by the homeowners and I had it all to myself. I'm so sad that this doctor has been suffering so and I hope that it hasn't progressed. That's a terrible price to pay for working in public health.

[guiricha]

Thank you Real Responders for this fascinating documentary, and also my appreciation to Dr. JoAnn Burkholder and her team for their remarkable investigation. as well Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker for helping most of his patients get better using Cholestyramine, and also I am hopeful Dr. Burkholder and Dr. Howard Glasgow were fully recovered.

[needmoreramsay]

The goal of the lead doctor; before even arriving on scene, was to explain the likelihood of "mass hysteria". A prominent physician, diagnosing MASS HYSTERIA before even seeing a single patient. This is our health care system folks.

[Madkat]

Sincere condolences for the people who sustained permanent injuries due to this insidious illness. Bless you and may you always stay well.

[suzannebrown]

I was a microbiology technologist for years (now retired) back in the 60s through the 80s. If there’s one thing I learned pretty quickly, it was that bacteria, and other microorganisms, can and will mutate for different reasons. The bug has managed to develop a toxic response to a dangerous chemical substance that can (ultimately) cause the fisteria (spelling?) to “consume” the victim with this “neurotoxin” that can lead to terminal illness. There was a very common bacteria that posed no health risk to any human and was “normal flora” in the intestinal tract (gut) and aided in digestion. Sometimes it might cause an infection in the urinary tract, probably caused by improper wiping after a bowel movement. One day, the bacteria known as Escherichia coli decided to “fight back” with a surprise of its own (maybe as a response to overuse of antibiotics, maybe not) and mutated by developing a dangerous toxin to turn into a very serious, and sometimes deadly, gastroenterological illness with spoiled food as the culprit. Nature always has surprises in store for us and will keep us guessing!

[danielcunningham]

I have had exposure to this on the Neuse river, have caught fish with sores, and this was on the news for maybe a month at its peak. But the hog farms are now controlled, the fertilizer put on lawns is not. The downplaying of the issue is primarily due to not having a test they can sell or a treatment that they can sell. I no longer fish anywhere east of raleigh unless flat broke, or in the brackish water.

[adrihanaharajuku]

Poor fish, and to the people who got these symptoms. I couldn’t imagine getting sick with something that’s basically unknown and new, may god bless their souls 🙏🏼

[QuietBloom]

So ridiculous to show researchers collecting water samples without gloves or even respiratory protection for something they suspected was airborne. smdh

[billdorsey]

The fish in the Arthur Kill waters of Staten Island NY have all the same sores covering them as well.

[rosecolombo]

Thank You for posting this true story. This is very frightening. The public should always be informed of a health problem that spreads. Very sad.

[ahenzeaccessories]

It's really sad to watch the fisherman talk about his ordeal. I just hope there is a cure.