A Mandarin native is warning others after contracting a rare bacteria while fishing near Pine Island, leading to nearly a year of medical complications and treatments.

Al Scott has been battling Mycobacterium marinum, a slow-growing bacteria that entered through a small cut on his thumb while fishing near Pine Island.

The infection gradually spread to his wrist over several months, resulting in multiple misdiagnoses, surgeries, and extensive medical treatments.

“It originated in my thumb on a little cut. It moved down my thumb into my wrist. But that took about two to three months,” Scott said.

Dr. Shilpa Amin, Medical Director of HCA Florida Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department, emphasized the rarity of such cases.

“This is really rare. When somebody is infected with this disease

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