Two people admitted to Blacktown Hospital after contracting rare flesh-eating disease
The patients acquired the disease in Polynesia.
Two people have been admitted to a western Sydney hospital after contracting a very rare flesh-eating disease while overseas.
The 57-year-old man and 46-year-old woman are in Blacktown Hospital with a condition known as necrotising fasciitis, which they acquired in Polynesia.
The cases are unrelated and both patients are in a stable condition, Blacktown Hospital confirmed to 9news.com.au.
There is no risk to public health and the community should not be alarmed, a hospital spokesperson said.
Necrotising fasciitis is a fast-spreading bacterial skin infection which kills the body's soft tissue.
It is most commonly caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria.
If left untreated, it can result in loss of limbs or death.
Symptoms of necrotising fasciitis may include pain or soreness, swelling, redness of skin, ulcers, blisters, or black spots on the skin.
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