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Winter 2003 - V.18 N.4 Table of Content	Skin Lesions Affect Fishermen and Swimmers
News Around the Lagoon First Phase of Everglades Restoration Begins Trace Levels of Wood Presearvations Found in Florida Aquifer Nonnative Mussels Found in Tampa could Spread Wildly House Members Urge Bush to Retain Clean Water Act Protection Artificial Reefs Study and Regulation Plan Invasive Cogon Grass May Surpass Kudzu as Southern Plant Scourge Congress Oks $150 million for Everglades Central Florida Water Supply in Peril 5,000 New Fish Species in Census of Oceans EPA Reports 40 More Superfund Toxic Waste Site Cleanups Skin Lesions Affect Fishermen and Swimmers Mercury Decreases in Everglades Surfriders TRests Prompts Further StudyRunoff Cause Cattails Spread in Everglades Puffer-fish Band Stretches to One Year	Health officials said skin problems reported by fishermen, surfers and swimmers were caused by a common environmental bacteria called methicilli-resistant staphylococus aureus or MRSA, believed to be acquired only on land. The infections spread from person to person and did not come from the ocean. But a Hawaiian microbiologist found MRSA in water close to the shore and an Ormond Beach dermatologist said he has treated patients that swum in the ocean right before contracting the illness. Bacterial infections are common among fishermen and affects people with weakened immune systems. The skin disorder starts with small pustules that can expand to the size of silver dollars within days. Left untreated, MRSA can result in massive infection, amputation or death. Pathological tests on two grouper with skin lesions show they were not related to the MRSA. Next Article: Mercury Decreases in Everglades

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