Alaska Man Contracts Mysterious ‘Seal Finger’ Disease in What Officials Are Calling a Medical First
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- In fall 2024, a 29-year-old Alaskan hunter developed a severe infection called "seal finger" after cutting his finger while skinning a brown bear, marking the first documented case linked to bears rather than seals.
- The infection was caused by Mycoplasma phocimorsus, a recently identified bacteria that does not show up in standard cultures and requires specific antibiotic treatment, such as doxycycline.
- Seal finger has been recognized for decades, primarily among Native seal hunters, but diagnosis is difficult and cases may be underreported; historically, severe infections often led to amputation.
- Alaska health officials recommend wearing protective gloves, such as nitrile gloves covered by cut-resistant gloves, when handling marine animals or
