Yellowknife (Dec 13/04) - Flesh-eating disease is very rare in Canada, occurring in one per million people, says the NWT chief medical officer.

And the recent confirmed diagnosis of an NWT resident, believed to be a female from Fort McPherson, is only the third case Dr. Andre Corriveau has seen in his 10 years in the territory.

"It's a very rare disease," Corriveau said. "The risk might increase in certain conditions, but even if you double that risk, it is still rare."

Health officials were notified of the case on Nov. 26. The patient was sent to Stanton Territorial Hospital, then on to Edmonton, where surgery was performed.

The patient was discharged Dec. 2 and sent home.

Those in close contact with the patient were advised to take antibiotics to prevent spread of the disease, but it was not necessary for health officials to advise members of the community-at-large about the case, he said.

"It's not an epidemic," said Corriveau.

When contacted by News/North, the Health Centre in Fort McPherson refused to comment about the case.

Necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh-eating disease, starts with an abnormal variation of a common bacteria known as streptococcus group "A."

While the same bacteria is usually responsible for strep throat or minor skin infections, in severe cases it produces toxins which destroy the fascia, or tissue, surrounding muscle.

Surgery or amputation is often required to stop its spread.

If not treated quickly, it is fatal in about 50 per cent of cases, Corriveau said.

This bacteria needs a portal of entry, such as a cut, or open sore, such as chicken pox, he said.

"It spreads very quickly, so the redness starts to spread. What would initially appear as a benign wound would not heal quickly," Corriveau said of the symptoms of flesh-eating disease. "The sooner you intervene at that point, the better the outcome," he said.

In January 2003, a 30-year-old man from Gjoa Haven died of flesh-eating disease, just two days after being told he needed no medical treatment.