The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases
states that the current email rumor circulating about Costa Rican bananas
causing the disease 'necrotizing fasciitis' is false.
We have
not heard any reports of cases of necrotizing fasciitis associated with
bananas. There is no evidence that necrotizing fasciitis is transmitted
by food. The bacteria which most commonly cause necrotizing fasciitis
live in the human body. The usual route of transmisson for these bacteria
is from person to person.
The CDC
Press Office has issued a notice at the CDC CDC
Web site.
If you would
like more information about necrotizing fasciitis, you might wish to check
the Division of
Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases Disease Information index. Look
under “Group A Streptococcus”, which is the most common cause of necrotizing
fasciitis.
Further,
while we cannot endorse or validate the information contained therein,
there is information on this e-mail rumor posted at a commercial site
http://www.snopes2.com/toxins/bananas.htm.
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