GI back from Haiti stricken with rare infection

Reported by: Bryan Garner
Email: bgarner@wptv.com
Last Update: 1:13 pm

Soldier who served in Haiti stricken with serious illness

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U.S. Army Warrant Officer Chris Lust at the V.A. Hospital in Tampa. His mother says he has a blood clot in his hand and he is battling a rare bacterial infection. (photo provided)


STUART, FL -- U.S. Army Warrant Officer Chris Lust of Stuart is recovering from a rare bacterial infection which he contracted while helping with the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Lust says he was helping distribute food to earthquake victims in Port-au-Prince when he became ill.

"Real bad body aches…right before I experienced spiking temperatures, from 103-105….I was getting real cold…cold sweats…and I get so cold I started shaking," said Lust, speaking from his hospital bed at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa.

He says he was flown to the U.S. Navy ship Comfort, anchored off the coast of Port-au-Prince, for treatment.

At first he was told he suffered from dengue fever, or possibly malaria. But when he arrived at the VA hospital in Tampa, doctors changed the diagnosis to leptospirosis, he said.

According to the U.S. Army, four soldiers became ill and had to be evacuated for treatment while serving in Haiti. A spokesman would not elaborate on the type of illness those soldiers contracted, or if any of them are sick with leptospirosis, like Lust.

According to the World Health Organization leptospirosis is a rare and severe bacterial infection that is endemic in Haiti. The WHO reports infection in humans may occur when the bacteria come into contact with the skin, typically through contact with unclean water that has been infected by animals.

"It’s kind of like they’re writing a blank check when they go into these places and it might cost them their life," said Lorilei Lust, Chris' mother.

She visited her son at the VA hospital and said he experienced seizure-like symptoms and painful headaches.

Lust was transferred out of the I.C.U. on Saturday. He says doctors plan to fly him to San Antonio for follow-up care within the week when he's able to make the move.

U.S. Army spokesperson Gary Tallman said he could not comment on this case as it would violate personal privacy laws.

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