The fight against human cannibalism

A young American woman lost her limbs after being infected with a bacterial strain capable of eating humans in an accident. After many days of struggling, she regained her voice.

Aimee Copeland - a 24-year-old woman living in Carrollton, Georgia, USA - infected with a strain of bacteria that could cause necrotizing Fasciitis , a form of streptococcal colitis. Bacteria invade wounds and destroy surrounding tissues, the AP said.

On May 1, Aimee, who is a graduate student in psychology at West Georgia University, joined her friends on a cable car over a Little Tallapoosa river. The cable car hit the cliff, causing her to fall into the river. A deep cut appeared on the left calf girl after a fall.

Ms. Aimee Copeland.

Doctors at a Carrollton city hospital stitched 22 stitches to seal her wounds. But on May 4, friends brought Aimee to the emergency room in an infection. Doctors diagnosed her with a rare infection syndrome. People quickly took her to the city of Augusta - 300km from Carrollton - for treatment. The doctors were forced to cut Aimee's left and partial legs to preserve life. She had a heart attack as soon as people took her out of the surgical table, but the doctors had saved her life in time. They said Aimee wouldn't survive that night, but she proved the opposite. A few days later the doctors cut the right leg and two hands because they were also necrotic.

Professor Buddy Creech, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University in the US, said: Aimee's necrotizing fasciitis was caused by a bacterium called Aeromonas hydrophila . This bacterium lives in warm rivers and streams. Most people do not experience any symptoms when exposed to Aeromonas hydrophila, but it can cause consequences on some individuals. They secrete toxins that can damage muscle tissue, fat and skin. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 550 to 1,000 people die every year because of Aeromonas hydrophila worldwide. About 25% of victims die.

Necrotizing fasciitis also causes Aimee to struggle with kidney failure and damage in other internal organs. The doctor had to take her to the intensive care room, where she breathed through the machine. The girl started breathing on her own at the beginning of last week. She then sat on the chair herself on May 24 and ate soft food.

"Aimee's voice is quite weak, but she made a joke about her life at the hospital with family members," said Andy Copeland, Aimee's father.

When Andy entered Aimee's hospital room around 17:00 on May 27, he asked how she felt."I was surprised because I still could speak , " she replied.