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MI man dies from blood infection that killed 17

Posted at 5:39 PM, Mar 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-18 10:04:31-04

Public health officials say a Michigan man has died of a rare blood infection that matches the one that has killed 17 people in Wisconsin.

The deadly infection is caused by the Elizabethkingia bacteria, and today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services was contacted by the CDC.

They say the very same bacteria that has killed 17 people in Wisconsin since November matches the one that caused a fatality here.

The person who died in Michigan was an older adult with health problems.

The CDC also said the bacteria is common in the environment, including water and soil, but rarely causes an infection.