Who Is Josue Zurita? Hurricane Harvey Survivor Dies Of Necrotizing Fasciitis

A Mexican carpenter, who was helping his family rebuild after Hurricane Harvey brought unprecedented property damage to the state of Texas two months ago, died after being diagnosed with a rare flesh-eating bacterial infection known as necrotizing fasciitis on Oct. 16.

Josue Zurita, 31, was born on Sept. 1, 1986, in Oaxaca, Mexico. He moved to the United States 12 years ago when he got a better opportunity to provide for his family and had since been living in Galveston, Texas. According to CNN Affiliate KHOU, he was working as a carpenter and took up demolition work after Hurricane Harvey.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria Zurita, and daughter, Carolina Zurita. According to New York Daily News, the deceased left his wife and children in Mexico when he came to work in Texas. He also has two sisters — Yolanda Zurita and Elvia Zurita and a brother — Efrain Zurita.

Zurita was admitted to a hospital on Oct. 10, after a wound on his upper left arm got seriously infected. He was later diagnosed with a flesh-eating disease known as necrotizing fasciitis.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Necrotizing Fasciitis is a serious bacterial skin infection that spreads quickly and kills the body’s soft tissue. "People with necrotizing fasciitis often start having symptoms within a few hours after an injury," the website explains. "The skin may be warm with red or purplish areas of swelling that spread rapidly. Some people get ulcers, blisters, or black spots on the skin. Patients often describe their pain as severe and hurting much more than they would expect based on how the wound looks."

The Galveston County Department has confirmed that Zurita’s illness was not caused by Vibrio Vulnificus, harmful bacteria that is typically found in beach water. "It’s most likely this person’s infection occurred when bacteria from Harvey debris or floodwater entered his body through a wound or cut," said Dr. Philip Keiser, Galveston County Local Health Authority. "That area — the fascia between the muscle and the skin gets an infection and that's an open space so infections just roar through there very quickly and when that happens it's very hard to stop it."

According to health officials, people who are working in hurricane-affected areas should take every necessary precaution when they are working. In case anyone sustains an open wound, they should clean it as soon as possible and also get a tetanus shot. Despite all the necessary care, if a wound gets infected, one should seek the help of a medical professional immediately.

Zurita’s funeral was held on Oct. 22 at Carnes Brothers Funeral Home in Galveston. According to the official obituary page of Carnes Brothers, "He will be remembered as a loyal friend and devoted Christian father who remained faithful to his Catholic Faith."

"He's a very caring person," said Brenda Avalos, wife of Zurita’s cousin Anastacio. "He has a lot of friends here in Galveston that love him. Everybody is very sad. He was very young and always smiling."

Prior to this case, the flesh-eating bacteria already claimed the lives of Nancy Reed, 77, and Clevelon Brown, 64. J.R. Atkins, a former firefighter survived an infected bug bite.